The Press., 1893-01-05

face framed in golden hair over Mrs. Sparkler's tin coffeepot, and the feast of king wreathed with rainbows could not have been more beautiful ill his eyes.
 Renwick was cased in frigid civility as in a coat of mail. Secretly he re- gretted having asked Mildmay to din- ner, now that he had discovered that he was mere nobody, not worth wasting his notice upon. He pressed his thin lips, lifted his arched eyebrows and looked discontented and unhappy.
 But current of sympathy had estab- lished itself between Judith's blue eyes and Mildmay's hazel orbs. It seemed to Mildmay like fine crossing lines of light with electric vibrations. He un- derstood all the difficulties and hunilia- tions of her life without an explanatory word. He never knew what he put into his mouth at that dinner, but strangely enough, even while Judith tripped around the table changing the old cracked plates and Renwick remained sunk in himself, a stream of merry talk seemed to flow between them. Mild may was to her girlish apprehension the most unassuming and natural of men, and she had lived so long with preten- sion and unreality that naturalness was of all things delightful to her.
 When this meal-as miraculously pro- vided as if brought by ravens or angels was finished, ,Mildmav, strangely enough, displayed no disposition to take himself away. Old Renwick, as usual after din- ner, had betaken himself to his place by the fire in his great shabby easy chair and had lighted his long stemlned pipe. Judith and the stranger sat in another part of the large room, where the low afternoon sun came in through the win dow and touched his blond head and her golden one. She was sewing fast and deftly on 8 piece of needlework she had taken from the Ladies Aid society in the hope of earning few shillings for her pressing needs. Mildmay sat and watched her for awhile, saying word or two now and again in low voice. When the old mans regular breathing came to his ear, interrupted occasion ally by short, brusque snores, Mild1nay leaned over toward Judith and said con- fidentially:
 s'I am afraid have fallen out of favor with your father. He seems to be less cordial than at first
 Judith without raising her head gave him a reproachful little glance out of the corner of her eye.
 "Why could you not pretend to be descended from Sir Bruce Mildmayi You might have belonged to a remote branch, but still distinctly of that house with the Plantagenet quarterings ir your coat of arms.'
 "By heavens, Miss Renwick, if I had only known," exclaimed Milmay, q would have sworn on the good book that Sir Bruce was my revered great ancestor that 1 have his rusty coat of arms, his shield and battleax at this moment hung up in the baronial hall, and would have forged yards of parchment to prove my claims"
 "For an inventive man." said Judith with shy smile, "who had cleared ar abandoned mine of water by improved machinery, you did appear to me singu larly wanting"
 "What can do to win your forgive ness for my stupidity he asked, stil gazing in her face.
 II don't know" she answered, with { suppressed sigh, Git may prove a more serious matter to us than you think Father has old time notions deeply in grained, and fear he is growing some what childish. If he thought you be longed to an ancient race he would trus you, because he so firmly believes tha noblesse oblige. He was not brought III with business habits and has been sadly taken in by speculators, and now if ht thought you belonged to that class hs would refuse to sell the western land and we do so need the money. cam make him understand how poor we are. The last words were given in 8 thrilling whisper. Mildmay felt that this young gir had made direct appeal to him fol help in her trouble. He colored an( looked embarrassed, and for momen remained silent.
 Judith drew back ashamed and aston ished at herself for having betrayed SC much to total stranger. She sat there covered with confusion, unable to speal or attempt an explanation, when { confused sound of feet was heard invad ing the kitchen, and in moment tht door burst open, and Mrs. Sparkler ap peared, followed by her husband witt Sally in his arms, and Prue holding or to the tail of his coat. The childre1 were tattered and torn, hands and face! quite black with dirt, and hair in wilt tangle.