Nevada County picayune., 1892-01-21

1 i"'t Noh HaNC lHct HcleS Snc Sdlu, with slow deliberation, her eyes looking straight at him through the silk mask You do not consider her firt, and yet you are not sure of her preference for you. You hes itate to declare your passion, and you are wise. She is innocent and good; it would pain her very much to reject you, and you should be con siderate enough to spare her that "
 You are very frank to tell me this, - stammered Mark Meredith rifts of white crossing his face. You want to be spared yourself, but you don't seem to have much consideration for me"
 ''I-don't-understand you," re- piled the fortune-teller, with some confusion.
 An" eJaculated Mark Meredith little savagely. However, l thank you. Perhaps it was kind in you to warn me. It makes It less less bitter.
 You seem strangely affected, 7" the young man said. If 1 have wounded your feelings, 1 beg your pardon. l spoke at random, and you should look upon it as bit of pleasantly"
 You could have made it pleasant by offering me encouragement, :" Mark Meredith replied, crisply, gIoomily. II bid you farewell
 He strode out of the tent, and the girl in the black silk mask looked af- ter him with a bewlldered express sion in her eyes. She laughed to herself, but there was no heartiness in it.
 Mark Meredith left the neighbour hood the next day, and the next mail brought Hattie Sloane the fol- lowing letter:
 Yes, you were right when you said that I was deeply in love with you. l was just about to propose to you. and while felt very much hurt at the time, l now see that you did it for the best said then, I thank you l repeat it now. May nothing ever happen to mar the se renity of your life. NJ. NJ. "
 Matte read the letter three or four times, sighed and then locked it up in her portable desk.
 The next summer found Mark Meredith enjoying cruise in the Mediterranean. It was an excellent panacea for his bruised heart, and he was slowly conquering his love for the pretty Organist he had left on the banks of the Hudson. He came on deck one morning just as the ship was entering the harbor at Trierte. Suddenly he stood stone still, though hls heart huttered wildly, for there, in a steamer chair, sat Matty Sloane. He had not seeu her before, and in ferred that she had come on board at Palermo.
 He could not be mistaken in that graceful figure and attitude, the fine ly poised head, the bright blonde hair and the brown eyee that had so much sweetness in them. Then teo, he saw the unique bracelets which he had 50 often admired.
 The old love reasserJed itself in q tumultuous way.
 Miss Sloanen" he said, quickly, nervously, "Mattie, This is a great surprise. "
 She lifted her face, and there was a blank stare on it. The brown eyes met his without a gleam of recognition in them.
 "I am not Miss Sloane, she re- piled, haughtily.
 Mark Meredith was dazed for n moment
 No, you are not" he said, strug- gIing hard to regain his compos- ure.
 Il beg your pardon. The re- semblance is so remarkable that --.
 He paused and keenly scanned her face.
 "Surely we have met before l' he said.
 "That may be-" she graciourly replied. But if so, we did not know each other then. Your voice seems familiar 10 ne, and am pug .z E., ia tlrn.'
 Il beg your pardon if seem too bold," he hurriedIy but politely sai q, "You can solve a mystery for me. | am not an adyenturer. aud l ask your confidence. You will bear