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SHIRLEY ROSS : 1 ^* \ I A Story of Woman's Faithfulness. ♦, OHAPTEU XLBH. It was later on the Mme day, and the â- lukdea of night were gathering over Jilrln- dale. The oottages were all cloied, and only little gUtnmeru o{ light were ahiniug tbrongh the cracks of the shottered win- clowg in those where the inmatea had not yet retired to rest. The Oliphant Arms •iWas oloBod, althoagh the light Btreamcd ruddily from the fanliijht ove( the door, still light- ing up the little bit of street iii<on which it fell, and falling upon the bowed, shrinking figure of a woman who was making her way down the street as fast as her trembling limbs and the slippery state of the roads allowed her. If any of the villagers had met her tboy woald have recognized her immediately ; but the uneven, irregular â- treet was empty and deserted, and there was none to see the school-mistrees as she harried along. t(Jtkc clock m the charch tower had just â- tmek 11 as she had left the cottage ad- joiniDK the school-house, sending Jip back, when he followed her, to the threshold of the door, and bidding him "Watch," and, when the dog bad obeyed, slie had locked him into the honse and harried down the hill, pale and trembling and nervous, etart- ing at every sound, and pressing her clasped hands to her heart, as it to still its tlirobbings. But her agitation was not entirely to be attributed to nervoas fear of the dark night. Uad her face been visible, any one might have seen upon it a great fear which was not dne to physical alarm. " Am I doing right ? Am I doing right ?" she muttered ai she pressed on. " Oh, Heaven help pieâ€" Heaven help me ! I do not know whore to tarn or what to do. Am I prudent in taking this step? And yet â€" and yet I cannot let him dieâ€" I cannot see him suffer so cruelly without obtaining what assistance I can. Oh, ,Taok, if you were not Ciuy's friend â€" if yuu were not Ony's friend !" ' The tears were gathering thickly in her eyes ; but she dashed them away im- patiently aa 'she went on, <iaiokoning her â- tepu for a few minutes, then frnm very wore a heavy ulster, in which ha looked Hushed and happy and handsome. Borne of the Kriudalitea thought that there was " something" between Dr. Lloyd's hand- some aHsistant and the lieotor's pretty daughter. Whether it was the case or not, it was certain that he was very freciuently at the Rectory ; and there was a pleased, well-satiefied smile in his blue eyes which showed that he had not met with a cool re- ception there this evening. " What can I do for you ?" he said, gently, seeing Shirley's agitation, and speaking kindly and soothingly. " You look very ill yourself, and it is u cold night for you to be out. Did you come alone?" " Yes," Shirley faltered. " Was there no one who conld have saved you such a long walk ? Yon look quite exliausted." " No one." " And the need was urgent ?" " Yes." " Poor child !" he said, pityingly. "1 do not think many can need my professional her companion's tbooghtfol oare of her that night. lie talkedeasily and pleasantly, thas avoiding the embarrassment of a silent walk, bat without giving her the trouble of answering. He described the dinner-party at the Bectory, meanwhile taking care not to walk too fast for her, but suiting his steps to hers, and making her lean upon him when they came to the bill on which the school.honse stood. And then, seeing that his light chat distressed her, he ceased, and gavebi^ whole attention to affording her the support she needed far more than she owned even to herself. At last they reached the school-house, and Shirley's trembling lingers unlocked the door and admitted him into the little passage. When she had closed the door she fastened it seoarely on the inside, and then led the way into the sitting-room. The lamp was burning on the table, and there was a bright tire. With an abmpt gesture Mrs. Grant pointed to a chair, and bade him sit down for a moment ; then throwing off her shawl weakness obliged to slacken thum again. And so, stopping at intervals to recover breath, and re^^ain sufficient strength for Another start, she made her way to a pretty white hoaso at the other end of the village, and there she paused, looking up wistfully at the windows whence no light iisaed. The white honse faced the road, being divided from it only by a small strip of garden, and the hall door was in the centre ; bat there was a side door, from which a narrow stream of light issued, and toward this Khirley walked rapidly. But whin she had reached it, and bad even lifted her band to the bell, she hesitated, shrinking back and moving away again ; then she •dvanced and palled the bell, giving it a â- wift sudden pull which rang a peal that Aronseil all the echoes of the (juiet house. Almost inimcdiaioly the door was opened by a sharp looking boy of fifteen or six- teen. " My w.ird, bat you did ring I" ho wag beginning uaucily, when ho recognized the applicant and adopted a more respcotful tone. "I bug pardon, ma'am; I did not â- ee you at Urst. Do you want the Doctor, Mrs. Grant ? " Hhirloy was leaning against the wall by fthii time, panting and breathless; but she forced the white lips tu answer in the nflir- mative. " Yes," the said. " Is he in I" •' No, Mrn. Grant," the boy answered, civilly, "lie is oat at a dinner-party at the liectory ; but I expect him back every moment. Will you wait to see him, Mrs. Grant ? Or uhall I ran around and fetch him?" " I will wait," she answered ; and the boy ushered her into a little waiting-room, which looked cold and comfortless, with the tiro dying oat in the grate. The lad turned up the gas into a sudden flare, which made Shirley cover her eyes for a moment ; then he pulled forward a chair and placed it for lier. " I will tell the Doctor you are here, ma'am," ho Said, " the very minotc he oomos in." "Thank you," Hhirley said, wearily, as alie sunk down upon the i liair he had placed ; and then, wlien the boy had left and she was alone, she crossed her arms upon the table and lot her lioad sink upon them in an utter and intense weariness of mind and body. But the wcakncKS was only momentary ; almost immediately she raised her head, and, rining, she began to pace up and down the little waiting-room, pushing back her hair from her bruw with a troubled, bewildered, almost despairing expression. " Have I done right ? Oh, merciful J^'ather, have I done right ?" nIio muttorod, as the little feet hurried to and fro swiftly and unsteadily. " Dare I trust him V Dare I trnst any one? And yet the responsibility is Hodrcadfal that I cannot bear it alODo. Oh, Heaven liclp uh allâ€" Heaven help us all !" she prayed inco- herently. When she heard tlie doctor's step coming np the gravel pat)i she started, and, sitting down, tried to wait his entrance with â- oniething like composure; bat it was a very pitifully eager face which met the new- corner's glance aa ho entered the waiting-room ; and the eagerness died out of Hliirley'H eyes and a terrible disappoint- ment stole into thorn as she saw that it was not Dr. Lloyd, but his assistant, Mr. Ijitton, who stood before her. •' Mrs. Grant 1" ho oxclaimod, in Home aurpriso. " I hope you have not been ' waiting long ? Von ought to have sent Baunders for me. Do you want my services yourself, or have you been doing one of your kind actions and sitting up with â- ome poor patient of oursV" He was a slender, handsome man of â- asyon or eigbt-and-twenty, with a pleasant kindly faco and keen blue eyes whioli looked at Bhirloy rather attentively as she stood opposite to him with wide desolate eyes and that intcnHC dinappointment on her fao». He had put out hinliand to her on entering, and mechanically Hhe had put lier shaking, trembling fingerj into it ; and thoy lay there still, firmly clasped in Iuh gloved hand. Mr. Litton had been dining at the Rectory, and over his evening clothes he|(ji,irley Olynn noticed, and never forgot services more than you do yourself at this I and bonnet, she went qaiokly up stairs, present minute. Wait a minute and I will ' "" ' '"^ '^ " '"" get yon something which will do you good.' He was turning away, when her voice arrested him. " Dr. Lloyd ?" Shirley said, sharply. He looked at her in some surprise. " Dr. Lloyd has gone to London," he said, quietly. " Did yon not know 7 Ee went with poor Mrs. Pitt, and â€" â€" " A groan escaped from Shirley's lips as she sank down upon a chair, her hands hanging holplesssly by her side. Dr. Lloyd was an elderly, gray-haired man whom she could have trusted ; but Mr. Litton was a stranger. "Shall I not do?" he said, gently. " He left me as his substitute, you know, and, in default of better professional aid, I can only offer yon mine." Shirley shook her bead despairingly. " I do not doubt your ability," she said, unsteadily, "but " " Nor my willingness, I hope ?" he pat in, warmly. " I shall be happy, believe me, if I can be of any use to you." " You are very good," she answered, covering her face with her hands for a moment ; and, seeing how terribly agitated she was, he quietly left the waiting-room, and, going into the surgery, mixed her a soothing draught and a restorative, with which he presently returned. " Drink this," he said, gently but firmly; and Shirley, because it was too much trouble to resist, obeyed him, looking up as she finished into his face with wistful, won- dering eyes. " Mr. Litton, can I trust you ?" she asked, a great earnestness in her voice and on her face. " I hope BO," he said, smiling a little. " My dear Mrs. Grant," ho added, with a gravity which sat well on bis handsome face, " in the profession to which I have the honor to belong we become the recipients of many secrets, and a doctor is obliged to be as trustworthy ax a confessor himself. If what yoQ have to tell me is something which yoa hesitate to divulge because you fear it may get wind, yon can dismiss your fears. You may safely trust me, for your secret will never pass my lips." " It is not my secret only," shd said, looking up at him with wistful, troubled, pleading eyes. " Oh, it I dared tell yooâ€" if I dared tell you!" " Is it my loyalty you doubt ?" " No â€" oh, no I" " Then why do you hesitate ? I am not as old as Dr. Lloyd, certainly ; but I can keep a secret as well as if my hair were gray." Shirley rose in her uncertainty, clasping ai)d unclasping her hands in her e.xcessive agitation. " Mr. Litton, forgive me," she said, brokenly, after a pause. " I am in very great distress and perplexity, and I do not know what to do. I hardly dare trust any one." " Would yoQ like me to give you my word of honor that I will say nothing of anything yon tell me 7" be asked, gently, pitying the intense distress from which she was so evidently suffering. " Will yon ?" she said, eagerly, taming to him with outstretched hands. " Yesâ€" willingly, if it will alleviate your distress." " Oh, thank youâ€" thank you !" she cried. " Will yon promise me to ask no questions bnt such as are absolutely necessary, to tall no one in all the world where I shall take you to-night, and what yoa see there ?" " I promise." " It is a matter of lite aiiil death," she said, brokenly. " Oh, if I could only be sure of what I ought to do I It seems as if there were no alternative, as if I mast trust you ; and yetâ€" and yet â€" " She wrung her hands passionately. Iloland Litton looked at her with sincere compassion ; be could not feel offended at her want of uontidence in him ; every other feeling merged in pity for her distress. " Ob, help me!" sho said passionately. " Tell me what to do ?" " Uow can 1, Mrs. Grant? I can only say that you may safely trust me." She looked at him eagerly and keenly for a moment. " Vos," she said ; " then I will trust you. Will you come with me ?" lie looked surprised for a moment, then â- aid hastily- " Certainly ; I am at your servioe." Ho opened the door for her, imd, with a desperate effort, sho regained sufliciont composure to precede him out of the room, across the little passage, and into the gar- den. " Don't sit up for me, Saiinders," Mr. Litton said, carelessly. " 1 have my latch- key, and in all probability I shall i.ol be required to night." " Very well, sir," said Saunders, who shut the door noisily after Mr. Litton, as lie followed Mrs. Grant down the path, joining her at the gate. She was calmer now ; the driiughthe had given her was taking effect, and the face she turned toward him bad lost its agonized expression of fear. " Are you well wrapped up '.'" he asked, gently. " 1 fuiir not," be adtied, as he drew lior shawl ronnd her and gave her his arm, " I wish I had brought a wrap for you." " I do not need it," sho answered, quickly. " I am quito warm, almost too warm indeed." " Too warm on this bitter night!" he said, incredulously, " It is not a tit ni^ht far a delicate woman like yourself to bo out." Notwithstanding the intense nervous excitement under which she was laboring leaving Mr. Litton alone. Five minutes passed while be waited for her, and the sound of voices reached him as he sat â€" muffled voices, it aeemed to him, broken once or twice by a dreadful cough. Then she came down and beckoned to the doctor. He put his hat on the table and went to the door at which she stood. " I have trusted yoa," she said, " and yon have promised. No7 come with me, and remember the promise you gave me." " I will remember it," the young man said, gravely, aa ho followed ber np the narrow staircase into the room whence the the voices had proceeded. CHAPTEl XLIV. " It isa very painfal business altogether," said Lady Oliphant gravely. " I really do not know what to do for the best." " I am afraid, my dear, that yoa have no one bnt yourself to blame for the annoy- ance,' said Sir Frederic quietly as he look- ed up from his newspaper. " Yon took Mrs. Grant on trust, although yoa niiKht have guessed that there was some mystery about her. That a woman of Mrs. Grant's appearance and education and manner should be wandering abont the country in a state of destitution was in itself a most suspicious circumstance, which I pointed out to you at the time." " My dear Frederic, you were almost aa much infatuated aboui her as Madge and I were." Sir Frederic smiled. " I am glad you said 'almost,' " he re- marked. " Because, if you had said 'ijaite,' I should have thought you were jealous ! Yes, I will own frankly that the singular uncommon charm of manner which Mrs. Grant possesses was not without its effect upon me. But I cannot conscientiously say," he added smiliiii,', "that lever ap- proved of the child'! intimacy with her." "She seemed good and sweet and hon^t," Lady Ulipliant aaid eorrowfoUy. " I can- not even now think of ber as anything else." â- ' My dear Margaret, " said Sir Frederic, putting away his newspaper and going to his wife's side as sh" s-uud at the window looking out on the terrace in trout of the hall, "women to all apptJarance as sweet and true as Mrs- Grant have turned out depraved and worthless ; and, although I hope I should be thr last man to judge any one hastily, I oanViot help thinking that yoa have been grossly deceived in your soliool-mistreSB, and that the sooner you get rid of her the tietter." "Ob, Fred," Laily Oliphant exclaimed caliy, as shorecallod Mrs. Grant's pale, sad face and wistful eyi>s, "do yon really think it is 80 bad as that ?" " It is not desirable to retain a school- mistress about whom the whole village is chattering," lie said gravely. " Y'ou can go nowhere without hearing some remarks about her. The fro<|uency of Mr. Litton's visits at her cottage at all hours is sullioiont in itself seriously to damage her reputation, and she has been seen walking with him and letting him out of tho house in the middle of the night. Moreover, she must have bad some good reason for dis. missing the little servant and living alooe, aa she had been doing, ever since Christ- mas- We cannot blind ourselves to these facts, my dear, however much we may wish to do 80. Besides â€" " " Besides what?" Lady Oliphant asked, looking np eagerly. " Besides, Jarvis, when he was at the Oliphant Arms the other day, heard a man say that, on Christmas night, when he was walking over the hill on his way from Adinbrooke, he saw Mrs. Grant kneeling before her tiro, while a man, who sat in a big arm-ohair beside her, had bis arms aroiuid her and his head over hers." " Was it Mr. Litton ?" said her ladyship in a low tone. " No, he said notâ€" that it was a stran- ger." Oh, Fred, I do not believe it I Of course one cm understand about Mr- Litton. Sho is BO lonely, poor thing, and he is very nice and pleasant and agreeable, and it is i|uito likely that they have fallen in love with each other ; but that Mrs. Grant is so de- praved â€" No," continued Lady Oliphant energetically, "I will not believe it!" " 1 thought Litton was engaged to liosie Venn'?" said Sir Frederic dryly. " He paid her a great deal of attention," said bis wife. " And poor liesie is very roach distressed about this rumor concern- ing Mrs. Grant. Koally it is very pain- ful ; and i do not know what to do." " My dear Maggie, your duty is perfectly plain. You must dismiss Mrs. Grant at onc^e, and tind a less attractive and mys- terious tciiohor for your schools. Today is a whole holiday, and yon bad better drive up the hill and get rid of a very dis- agreeable task, unless you would prefer to write to her." " I think it would be kinder to see her," Lady Oliphant said, with some hesitation. " I suppose it must bo done, Fred?" " There is no alternative, dear. I regret it for your sake and poor Madge's, for tho child is sincerely attached to IVIrs. Grant; liut it cannot be helped. At any rate, the child must not go to tho cottage," he added decisively. "1 cannot allow that!" " No, certainly not. I am glad Guy and Mr. Uosa are here, as their society will amuse hor and distract her attention." Sir Frederic's glance followed his wife's, which had llxod itself on a group standing on tho tonlice, at some little distance from the house, having just ascended tho broad stono steps leading from the Howor-gardon upon which the breakfast- room opened. It was a pntty group, and to the mother's loving eyes it was a aignifloant one ; and, while she smiled, she sighed softly at the thought it conjured up. Madge, in a pretty skatiiy costome of brown velveteen trimmed with dark fur, was standing by ore of the tall marble vases which stood on either side of the steps. Major Stuart, in bis heavily furred overcoat, leaned against the other, looking at her with a smile in his grave eyes; while close to Madge, standing on one of the .steps and looking up at her with an intent tender gaze, was a handsome fair yonng man, whose face was bronzed and grave, but whose eyes, when they looked at Madge, were very soft and wistful- " Would you like it, Fred ?" Lady Oli. phant said softly, as she slipped her hand through her husband's arm, and smilingly indicated the group. " I am afraid he will want to take her from us." " Which of the two, Maggie- Stuart or Mr. Ross ?" " Mr. Boss, of coarse," she answered. " Poor Guy will never love any one again I He gave his whole heart once ; besides, he is too old and grave for our Madcap." " He might sober her," said Sir Frederic, smiling. " Mr. Rosa has quite sufficient gravity for that," Lady Oliphant said. " What a sad story it is !" " What is? Our Madcap's love affair? , "Ob, no â€" I hope not â€" bnt that mys- terious disappearance of poor Lady Glyiin ! Guy made every research at the time, as you know; and, since Mr. Ross' return, they have began them again, but with the same result â€" failure!" " Yes, poor thing, she is dead," said Sir Frederic musingly. " It is impossible that they iboald have been â- nsncceesful other- wise. Poor girl; hers was a sad life!" " It was a terrible thing, that marder of her husband! Do yon know I think Ouy has never got over it?" ' ' Poor fellow ; he has been cruelly treated. Think how many of his friends have turned their backs upon him, and still think him guilty of a dastardly crime ! Upon my word, Maggie, I cunnot think of it with any calmness I" Sir Frederic continued, with great warmth. " A man so brave and noble and trne, with such repatation as Gay Stuart always had, to be thoaght guilty of a crime of which the judge and jury ac<]aitted him! It was strange, was it not," be added more calmly, "that it should all have taken place daring our only absence abroad ? " Yes â€" very strange. Well, daughter mine," she continued, with a quick change of tone as Madge and her companions came up to the glass door and entered the room, " what is the programme for to-day?" " We have not quite decided," Madge replied. " I was going to escort Guy and Mr. Ross up to the school, and introduce them to Mrs. Grant; but they say they would rather see her in her official capacity than in private life, so, as to-day is a holi- day, we must defer the visit." " Yes, certainly," said Lady Oliphant hastily. " Why not drive to Lee Park? Lord Lee has written to papa to say that hs has thrown the lake open to skaters, and that he hopes we will go." "Ob, that will be charming! Papa, shall we go this morning 7 Are you dis- engaged?" " I am quite at your service, Madge. Mr. Itoss, have you forgotten how to skate?" " I hope not." he answered, smihng. •* It used to be a favorite pastime of mine in my boyhood. My sister and I did an immense deal of skating in Germany and Holland," he added, a shade falling over his face. " Then you will teach me the outside edge," said Madge, with her pretty im- perious grace. " I am longing to be able to skate really well." "I shall be delighted," said Jack, his face brightening with pleasure. " Bat I have no skates, Mies Oliphant." " I'apa can accommodate yoo," aaid Madge, laughing. "Gay, will you come with us?" " With much pleasure." " And yoa will skate?" " I am afraid I am too old, Madgie !" " Too old I" echoed Madge gayly. " Why, even papa skates!" " Kven papa!" said Sir Frederic laoKh- ingly. " And pray ispapasuch a Methuse- lah, you Madcap?" " Papa is a dear gray-haired personage, aad very handsome still," laughed Madge, y-ha said Major Btnart smiling " You're not gray-haired, Guy; you have just a few white hairs beneath your beard. Uow I wish you would dispense with it !" " Why ? Don't you like my beard?" " No, I prefer the long mastaohe, yon used to wear." " You don't remember me when I wore a mustache only, Madgie." " Don't I ? What an absurd idea ! I remember you perfectly ! Well, are you coming with us?" " I was going to ask Gay to drive me as far as the sohool-houso," said lady Oli- phant, smiling. " And if he will do so, we will follow yon to Lee Park. Am I un- reasonable, Guy?" " Unreasonable to give me a great plea- sure?" he answered, smiling. "If so, you are always unreasonable where I am con- cerned, Lady Oliphant." " Can not wo all go together ?" saggested Madge. " I should like to have a peep at Mrs. Grant, mamma." " We will go together in di Cferont vehicles," said Sir Frederic laughingly. " I will take the break, and Stuart can drive mamma in the pony carriage. I know what your ' peeps' at Mrs. Grant are. Miss Madge, and I should prefer, if possible, getting to Loo Park in time for luncheon. Bnt we will start together, if you, like." " And you will drive ov^r the hill 7" aaid Madge coaxingly. " Why, yes â€" it is tho shortest way," said her father, smiling. " I will go and get ready. Maggie wrap up well, dear, as it will be bitterly cold." " Madge, you had better put on yoar sealskin," said Lady Oliphant, as sho went away to got ready; and Madgo obeyed, leaving Major Stuart and Jack Ross on the terrace together. "Uow charming she ia!" the latter said, with a little sigh, as ho watched Madge disappearing through the door of the break- fast room. " Ves," assented Guy rather absently, speaking as if his thoughta were far away. "Guy, does sho over," Jack began, and the>. hesitated a little- it was always paih- f u< to him to bring that look of sorrow to Guy's face which tho mention of Shirley's looking at him fondly " But I am gray-haired too, Madgie,' name always brought there â€" "does she ever remind yon of Shirley?" Guy Stuart started slightly, and waited a minute before he answered. " Yes," he said gravely. " She has never done 80 before; but this time it has seemed quite strange how constantly she reminds me of her." "Ah, then, it is not my imagination!'' said Jack Koss eagerly. " I think it waa that similarity of manner which attracted me to her at first. Of course there is not < the slightest personal resemblance." "Not the slightest," assented Guy,, thinking of Shirley's rare beauty, and con- trasting it with Madge Olipbant's bright prettiness. " And that only makes it all the more remarkable," Jack said eagerly. " It seems 80 very strange that two people who have never met ahould have the same little tricks of manner and speech." " Yes ; it is very strange." There waa a short silence ; then Goy laid hia hand gently on his friend's shoulder. " Are yoa falling in love with the child, Jack?" Jack colored hotly under hia Eaatem bronze. What makes yoa think that, Stuart?" Many things. Bat yoa have not ans- wered my qaestioc, old fellow." What chance should I have ?" said Jack, with some agitation, " A poor fellow like myaelf would not dare to aspire to the- heiress of Krindale Hall." "Why not?" " I should not like to bo called a fortane- hanter, Guy." " Who would call you so ?" " Her father and motherâ€" Madge herself perhaps," the young man said, with a little tremor in hia voice. " I am sure they would not. Their only wish would be for the child's happiness ;. and 1 think she likes you, Ross." A gleam of eager delight flashed into Jack's blue eyes. " if ' could think so I wonld be the happiest man on earth," he said eagerly. "But no â€" I dare not. Sach happiness is not for me, andâ€"" "And what?" Guy asked gently. "And when they knew, as know they must, that I had been the real cause of Shirley's misery, they woald hate and despise me." "Bow must they know it, Jack?" "Because I could marry no girl without telling her that episode of my past life, Stuart," ue said gravely and tremulously. " I call myself an honorable man ; and yet poor Shirley gave ber happiness and per- haps her life to save me from being branded as a felon." -^ " No fault, so bitterly repented of and atoned for by years of patient plodding, industry and self denial, could stand against you now. Jackâ€" at least, not with sach people as the Oliphants, who are far too liberal minded to bold such a narrow creed as that," said Guy earnestly. "Do yoa care for her. Jack?" be added, after a pause. " With my whole heart," Jack answered, almost with a groan. " Guy, I have been undecided whether it was not belter to go away and never see her again." "You are but a timid wooer, Jack. Don't go away. Wait patiently. Since yon love her so well, it cannot do you much barm to wait a little longer even if your affection is not returned. Ah, here she is, pretty child â€" 'a sight to make an old man young!' " aoded Guy, smiling as he went forward to meet Madge, while Jack, in almost uncontrollable agitation, moved away in an opposite direction. "What is the matter with Mr. Koss?" she asked, as she held out her pretty little hand for Guy to button her gloves. "A very common malady," said Major Stuart, smiling, as he bent over the little hand. "And what is that?" " Disease of the heart." " Disease of tho heart !" echoed Madge the bright color fading somewhat. "Do you mean that he is ill. Gay 7" "Not exactly,'' be answered gravely, while poor Madge hurriedly recalled all the stories she had ever heard about people who had disease of the heart â€" how they had gone about without even knowing the malady by which they were affected, until suddenly they had drop()ed dead, without a warning or a moment's preparation. "Guy, what do you mean?" she said with tremuloas earnestness ; and Guy, looking up from tho little gloves, saw how pale sher had grown. " Nothing, but he has fallen in love, my poor Madgie," he answered, smiling " Why, you look quito pole and startled I" " Well, no wonder I Guy, you are very provoking." " Am I ? Then 1 will say no more," he answered, smiling. " May I not button the other glove 7" Madge held out her hand to him; and, as ho took it into his, he felt that it was a littlo unsteady. Jack's chance did not seem very hopeless in Guy's eyes just then. "With whom has Mr. Ross fallen in love?" she asked presently. Qny made no answer, and she repeated the question. " With whom do you suppose?" " 1 really don't know. I am not acijuaint- od with all tho ladies whom ho knows." "Nor am I." (To be ooDtlnaed.) Tli«.v Have Kuund No (ihusts. The Psychical Society of England reports that its eifortH to discover ghosts have been unavailinf^. The same complaint is made by the American Society tor Psychical Research. Paradoxical as it maysound, therefore, those organizations have lost their spirits because thoy could not find any. It ia to be hoped, however, that thoy will not give up their quest of the coy and elusive ghost. Rome was not made in a day, and the soientiflc investigation of the psychical jihenomona which have for so many ages puzzled mankind cannot be effected until after years of patient effort. â€" New York World. Savs Sir Lyon Playfair in Macmillan's Mdfjazine : " Tho protective duties of America romovo from tis the most formid- able competitor in tho markets of the world by raising its cost of production. They protect Knj^Iand in all neutral morkets and enable us to send evoii into tho United States »l'25,O00.000 of manufactured goods, while they return to us less than ?I.i,000,OOC of their manufactures." .