, 1889-12-08

Icpiltu ~ HeT QueStlOnb. Ahut hlOic
over, Miss Pink was exasperated to find
that he was sufficiently changed to be
able to treat her with a certain amount
of condescension In effect her brother
| behaved towards her as a political min
lister might behave to a small sutton
who pestered him with demands in the
midst OF his business, but who had a
certain claim upon him for civil treat
ment which he might not repudiate.
81 can Dear this no longer, James,"
said Maria in the evening, after dinner.
She felt some terror lest her brother
should go off again with a cigarette in
his mouth. Had he repeated this in
EQUITY, she was resolved to cause a scene,
in public or private, it did not matter
which. But no. With an air of philo-
sophie abstraction that proclaimed his
peace OF mind, he had followed content
eddy at her heels when she had left the
table to retire to their private sitting
room. She had thus the less cause for
complaint. Yet she was too aggrieved
to perceive this.
What cannot you bear, Maria? Is
not the service of the hotel good enough
for your"
THE service of the iddlestick! You
know that / am concerned about a very
different matter. 1t is your own vel
fare, James, that is at stake, and heaven
knows / have not watched over you
from the time you were a helpless little
babel mean, of course, when we were
babes together-I say ! nave not been
for twenty years in he position of
guardian towards you, without acquir-
ing a strict and conscientious estimate of
my responsibility"
Yes, yes" observed James Pink, as
if he were, from a sense of duty, encour-
aging a difident client to unbosom him
self of his troubles.
"Be silent, James-with your yes,
yeses," exclaimed Miss Pink. 81 will
not be interrupted! Who is she, l say?
Tell me at onc where l may find the
creature, and put an end to the tragedy;
for it is tragic, indeed, in its effect upon
your heart, James, which 1 had come to
regard as soft, tender and humane"
: MARIA" said James Pink, b~enignly,
when his sister paused, 81 do not admit
hat there is reason in your plea; but let
that pass. The attachment is of the pur-
est, the most Platonic kind. l have
never stood within twenty PAGES of-of
this divine being
"And yet you are fool enough to sup
pose she is one of natures beauties" OBJ
served Miss Pink.
at is my turn to cry, BE silentl Ma
ria" replied James Pink. at is trifing
with the highest, the noblest of human
sentiments, thus to cast cold water upon
the blossoms of hope. You shall see her
for yourself, sister. That will assuage
your enmity, if anything will"
81 can quite believe it" said Miss Pink.
Nothing could please me more. The
sooner the affair is ended, the sooner we
shall return to our earlier and more
comfortable condition as an affectionate
brother and an affectionate sister, each
anxious only to promote the others hap
piness."
Hunt" murmured the lawyer, strok
ing his chin, and with, for the moment,
a recurrence of the light in his eyes.
G to bed, James," said Miss Pink,
abruptly; 1--WE ave had enough excite
ment for one day"
Without another word, and with but a
single kiss of s%alutation, James Pink
too up a candle and went off to bed.
He dreamed for eight hours of his fair
one, and awoke the next morning still
with exultation in his beort
Miss Pink, on her part, sat and read
for nm hour and a half oftar sba bod
wished her brother Coed NIGHT " and
retired conidant th,t ,bo bod tha ra;ns
of victory once AGAIN in her sineyyy Arm
hands,.
..yYeuy, II soid who, tbev soft orno
site IN each other nj braokrast AGAIN ~I
COO Toros thot ,o, > Iii - i.,a
fooIisb lot no 9ot ,ba iIIrs;on -
withont loss Of time"
..Tbe iunsion indead - soi5 Io,,os
Pill, ;rdion,n,Ir 81 o. uai.. e.
immediately after BREAKFAST IF Won
choose Won may occomnanv map
81 ash for nofhi,, better y remorLod
Miss pink with cmn6,s;s She straiaht.
way left the room and ere Jamas ia
rid bimsalf Of tho raors u,h;ch oor,o,ar.
him Will bis sister.s words 81 aod~i
eecence in his ;mnet,o,,s nronosaI r.
had returneJ honneted and olpved and
CARRYING in her hand n red porasoI With