Nevada County picayune., 1890-02-12

age to work-had supported them both by nursing, doing plain sewing, and occasionally selling bit of her antique furniture and old family sil- yer Now the only relic left was the fire screen, with which Mrs. Merit so stubbornly refused to part.
 That night, when she had given her aunt her regular cup of cocoa. and tucked her snuglv away in bed, Phyllis went into the wee box of a parlor and stood before the screen in question.
 "Worth more than S75. indeed .' she murmurcd, disgustcdly. That clumsy, ugly, useless old thing, But then it is just the articles which are ugly, clumsy and useless that rich people seem to run crazy after now adays."
 It was oval in shape, bound in dull silver, and swung III slender frame of black mahogany. The back-lt was couple of inches decp-was of papier mache, the front, queer jun ble of appliqned pictures in oil, India ink, and water colois, all being pro- tected from the dust by glass.
 The following day was Saturday, and Phyllis, in her best gown-a pretty, soft rose and white challie- set off for the Van Roosevelts' where she was engaged to instruct tri-wcekly the younger children in music.
 Quite the show place of the neigh borhood was the Van Roosevelts'. Built in the most elaborate style of modern architecture, it was sur rounded by conservatories, orchid houses, and terraces of emerald vel vet.
 Phyllis was endeavoring to make the most diminutivc Miss Van Roosc- welt comprehend the difference be- tween a crotchet and quaver, when Archie came into the room.
 Archie was the Van Roosevelt's eldest son, their pride and heir. And Archie was most tremendously in love with Phyllis Clyde. This to the girls decided embarrassment and consternation. Not that she didn't like Archie-one couldn't help that, so frank, and kind, and handsome, and honorable was he-but Phyllis felt their paths lay in widely differ ent worlds, and that she would be more content with her prosaic exist encc if she barred out from it it the dreams which never. never, could culminate in realization. So that was why she gave him the merest nod of recognition when he entered the mllslc-room.
 To half dozen random remarks she made no reply. He tried the strategy of questions.
 My mother went to sec your aunt yesterday, didn't she?"
 "Ycs,"
 About that curious screen?"
 "les."
 "Why don't you sell it: My moth CT has her heart set on securing it. v
 Phyllis looked up and laughed.
 "She says she is keeping it for Il wedding present for me"
 Phyllis" :"
 "Wcll, one, two, three, Bessie ,'
 "Oh, infantile tuition be blessed '" cried Archie in eXasperatioD, as he flung out of the room.
 But he managed to meet Phyllis on her way home.
 "Phillis," he said, "rve thought of q great scheme. Marry mel"
 "You've said that before," with a shake of her head.
 "Ies, but about the screen, you know. We'll give it to mother as . peace offering when you are her daughter-in-law.
 Phyllis laughed merrily. But she was absolutely unrelenting.
 No, no, no, Arcme .'
 II shan't take no for an answer '" avowed the young man stoutly.
 "lou must,
 "f won't!"
 "This is a nice way to contradict lady" reproved Phyllis, with great indignation, and at her heart warm glad thrill.
 That evening Archie presented himself at the door of Mrs. Merits | domicic.
 1 Regardless of his swectheart's pro- test he marched boldly in to see her aunt,