The Mineral argus., 1884-10-30

INV mistress cousin is here; but she
does not leave the invalid's rooms Tor
anything Just at present"
''Then III write my message IN a
note"
He stated the case as clearly as he
could on paper, and dispatched the SER
want with it. In answer the lady sent
her maid t. inquire if search had been
made everywhere in the vestry-room
for a surplcie. He sent back that furth-
er search was useless.
After some moments OTTO him
terrible suspense-for the time was al
most come for him to appear In the
chapel-the maid returned, and with
deep bushes and a nervous twltchlng
of her apron-hem began
MY young lady told me to tell you,
sir, that if YOU would not think it any
harm. she would send you her oh.
no, 1 don't mean that, sir She sand l
was not to say who 1T belonged to, but
she would cut the bands off the sleeves
and the lace from the neck, and it
would be long. and nobody would no
tice that it was a n%ightgown. sir; and, II
YOU don't mind, sir, L would go n
fetch it at once, for there is no time to
lose"
The girls concluding words were on
" too true and however much he might
have hesitated at her suggestion IN
in cooler moments, he was thankful now
for n solution of the difficulty.
Tell your mistress that / shall be
very grateful for the loan she proposes,
if she thinks the deception will not be
discovered"
The servant vanished and was soon
on the spot again with snowy linen
night-gown. The neck at the lack had
been torn down to admit broader shoul-
ders, and a linen handkerchief had been
hastily stitched l. to hide the rent.
Most of the characterization had been
cut away; but enough remained to prove
that the garment belonged to a lady OF
very dainty tastes.
Thankful for this semblance of a sur
plice, and too hurried to feel amuse-
ment, Mr.. Byron arrayed himself, en-
tered the chancel, and the service be-
gan at once. He observed, with a sigh
of thankfulness hat the chapel was
very dark; and this enabled him to read
without much nervousness. Two gen
tlemen came forward with the baby and
its nurse, and for a brief time during
the service the young clergyman saw
indistinctly the slender figure OF a lady
standing in the dimly-lighted aisle. Be-
fore the end of ceremony her feelings
seemed to overcome her, For she left
the church sitting what might have
been a sob, but which sounded strange
ly like a laugh.
What Mr.. Byron feared would be a
49, 1u1oo1 ,-oz unnn nuar and he Ta-
entered the vestry room with a much
lighter heart then when he left it.
While disrobing, a anne in indelble
ink on the gov attracted his attention.
Perhaps he should have respected his
fair benefactress' wish to remain un-
known; but the temptation was toe
strong. He turned to the light and
read the name-"Miriam Douglas"-un-
: der the tucks and embroidery of the
robe which he had just discarded.
Was it a coincidence, or had a kind
z fate led him to the shrine of his idol
The uncertainty was not to be borne.
Twill you ask Miss Douglas if she
can grant me five minutes interview
before i go?" he said to the girl wht
e came, in great trepidation, for the move
surplice,
! In a cosy little reception o Juliu
Byron was presently received by he
who had been the companion of M
: happiest dreams during more than thre
years. The blushing ~bashfulness ha'
4 vanished, leaving in it's stead a graceful
! womanly dignity. She was a sweeter
: fairer Miriam even than of old, "divine
= lv tall and most divinely fair"
"Oh, Mr.. Byron, how Mortified yo
, must be! You signed initials only
your note; and 1 little suspected t
, whom [ was offering that garment.
: recognized you at once in church, ano
: in spite of the solemnity of the occasion
- / had to laugh. 1t was such an un
commonly bad ftp
at was a great boon to me, and l sha
/ be everlastingly grateful to you fC
30 coming to the rescue"
/ Asudden indifference as to the hours
rs departing trains seemed to take posses
at sion of Mr.. Byron, and he found him
W self with a certain amount of equanim
ty accepting an invitation to spend tt
ar night at the Hall.
ne At the conclusion of her visit to h
y cousin, Mrs. NARROW, Miriam betoo
rs herself to the house of a friend, who e.
q, tended many informal invitations to NJ
so Byron as well.
One soft fragrant evening, among Il
June roses, Julius Byron told his 10
story; and Miriam listened with a Loo
in her eyes that told her lover that
he spoke not in vain.