The Worthington advance., 1882-05-18

The organ grinder, having drank his cof-
fee, laborious:y lifted. his instrument upon
bis back, and, supporting himself with .
stout stick prepared to leave. Minna sprang
down the steps.
I will open the gate tor you" she said
kindly.
And as ne passed out, she slipped into
his hand bright silver quarter.
stake this, please" she said, with q
blush.
He turned it over In his hand and hesitat-
ed. There Was something strangely earn
est in the look of the dark ewes peerin1
from beneath tho white bushy brows in the
swarthy face.
Did he guess the truth-that that silver
piece was tie whole Of her present store Of
pocket money?
AS he passed out at the gate. she looked
up into his face with lovely expression OF
sympathy and kindness.
Good. bye! I hope your little Blanca
*ill soon be with you" she said. gen.
ty.
He lifted bis hat almost revsrently.
God bless you. lady!"
Then, as she closed the gate, he tramped
slowly down the street, turned The next cor
ner, and entered the door Of lawyers Of
fee.
Here, lightly swinging his instrument to
the gronnd. he threw of white Wig and
beard. with corresponding pair Ut bushy
eyebrows, washed away from his cheeks
some artificial tan aud wrinkles, and drew
himself erect-a handsome, lark. oomplex-
ioned young man Of four aud. twenty.
Agentleman. entering from the next room,
looSod at him with a questionable smile.
We'll. he said riehy-"lost OF won?"
Both, Was the moody answer.
"Whut has happened? She did not dis
she?"
NO; and yet she might n ore easily have
discovered my identity than hers, under
the circumstances
What! N masquerade again!"
"Oat Of masquerade. Eaou1h! I wor-
shipped goddess, and find her Of clay
commone st clay"
"Ah, understand! You have found out
what I. who reside here and know some-
thing OF the family. though seeing your in
fatuatiop. did not dare hint. You would
never have believed it. Did you see that
little dar ing Miuna2"
B It f9r that darling little Minna I should
straight~ay lose all my faith in womapkind.
See here!" he added. holding up brieh,
silver piece. II shall keep this a. t.ils.
man, to remind ne that there is in reality
truth and goodness and unselfshness among
women"
Mr.. Aylesbury did not 20 to Mrs. Dab
unexpectedly Q, led him home. And when.
a few months after. he repe tied his visit to
the little town, people observed that Ills Ut
tentions seemed transferred from Miss
Gray to her younger sister.
In time 1t became known that they were
engaged: and while some wondered how he
could have relinquish I'D that splendid Ada,
whom he could Certainly Lave won for tho
asking. there were others who said he had
made a wiser choice.
Neither of the girls understood the mat
ter until one day, some time after his mar
riage, Mr.. Aylesbury showed to the sweet
Young wife seated upon his knee q bright
n,w coin.
well, said she, what of it? Does any
special interest attach to it esond its pecu-
mary value?"
Certainly there does! Why, it is tails.
man which has brought me what prize
be- ond all else on eafth."
And what can that be?"
yourself Ct course you little igno
minus! DO you remember when ycu gave
this to an id Italian ogsanR1inder at 70,
garden gst5?
She colored.
How do You konw?'
"How? Why, because I Was myself thu
ancient musiclan."
You Ph.lip?" with big eyes, and the
color deepeni 5g over neck and cLeek.
He laughed, and then he told her all aD0u
it.
Il took your gift. darling. but gave you a
full exchange. In that moment, I do be-
lieve, my heart went out to you as it had
never done to any other woman"
She hid her face on his shoulder. A mo.
ment after she looked up with. half fearful
eyes.
Dear, promise me one tbing-that you
will never let Ada know"
Certainly not! She would never forgive
that innocent little masquerade, even
hough 1t was she who detied me to deceive
her bv any disguise l choose to assume.
No, she stall never suspect that the poor,
ragged old organ -grinder, to whom she re-
fused penny was SIR Walter + leigh; and
on my part, shall try, for your sake, to
think that, II Was not my exquisite Lady OF
tue Lake whom that morning beheld in
slatternly dress, rude to Aer mother, selfish
to-"
But here Minna placed her hand over his
lips, and he stopped speaking to kiss it.