The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-30

/ NAbAN NpiN tJtANA anu tOiN hNt NNNi
with strict injunctions not to breathe a
syllable to his aunt,
A few more days elapsed and his letter
was returned to him-unopened
He was frightened in spite of himself.
How could he ever make the truth clear?
To lose Cora
He returned to Briar Hill and was re-
fused admission; and in reply to his dis
tracted message, circuitously conveyed to
the woman he now loved madlier than he
could ever have believed possible, came
word-cruel, insulting his ungentle-
manly persecution could never accomplish
anything, and that her resolution to see
him no more was uualterable So all was
at an end
| With sore heart and without hope,
Mark Croxton went abroad and made a
sort of Childe Harold pilgrimage, and the
next Christmas holidays found him in Lon
don-the most miserable man, think, in
all Her Majesty's dominions without a
purpose, without hope.
1t was a pretty day, and Oxford street
was full of people buying their Christmas
things and Mark sauntered along, list
lessly examined the shop windows, and all
of sudden he found himself face to face
with his cousin, the other Mark-thc man
whose sin he had cxpiated and Cora Ais
worth
Cora stopped, and was fastening to en-
ter one of the stores but he who loved
her so we'll would not lose his chance, and
walking quickly to her he held ont his
hand
"For Gods sake, don't turn away from
me My cousin is here, and will force
him to tell you how, to save him, have
crucifed myself
II know. He has told me, she said
softly and downcast Il know how [
wronged you"
But for the place he would have taken
her in his arms Mrs. Croxton's son
came up.
"Mark, old fellow, | swear didn't know
you! Shake hands, and Merry Christ
mas By Jove You look awfully bad !
What have you been doing with yourself !?
Why didn't you let me know you were in
London? We've been here fortnight.
But you were a selfish dog, Mark
Mark wineed
"Ay, a very selfish dog, always" he
laughed sadly, "My aunt is here Miss
Ailsworth, and well ?"
"Quite well" said Cora softly, through
her veil.
"Why don't you go home with Cora,
and see her." said the "Black Mark. y
"I'm awfully tired of prowling about shop
ping, aud if you'll relieve me, I'll-Tll
remember you in my prayers-ha, ha =
when | say 'em."
They chattered little longer; but Cora 5
escort was impatient to get away, and
presently relieved them of his presence,
"He never thought of thanking you for
what you did for him, said Cora, IS she
walked by Marks side
"What | did was for my aunt Is sake,
not his How did it end? What became
of the poor girl, Mary LOTUS? ?"
ale married her, after ALL She is with
US r.
"And did it not kill my aunt?"
.No. The shock of the truth-the
realization of how nobly you had acted
served as-as "a
"As counter irritant,' smiled Mark,
beginning to see. $50 like poor Aunt
Alice. She will see me now, | hope; and
is Mark happy with his wife ?"
"She is an excellent girl; and he is safe
with her, and that, you know, in his case
is everything. His mother is more than
happy. Nothing could have been more
fortunate than that marriage"
Mark was silent minute, thinking,
At last he said;
so cyerYhodys affairs have turned out
well except mine?"
"And mine, answered Cora, quietly.
"Well, Cora-am to call you Cora
again believe you and l were the only
sufferers after all. Fate has played US a
curious trick; but dare say there is a
moral somewhere if we choose 10 look for
it. This is the close of Christmas, and a
whole year has passcd-a dark one to me.
love- shall it end brightly? Shall the next
be happier" ?"
"I have forgiveness to ask.
"There is nothing to forgive my darling;
but a good deal to laugh over. Before
our reconciliation is complete | must restore
your stolen property-have you forgotten
at was recovered immediately-you
have forgotten think
swell. everything about it is best for.
gotten, Cora Let the New Years Day
be merely continuation of the last, from
its happiest point, when we were walking
together at sunset in the grounds at Briar
Hill, and let all the interval be sponged
out; in short, let the next be in name and
deed a truly -"
Happy New Year" said Cora, with a
merry laugh.
Algiers Has a Stream of Natural
Ink.
In Algiers there is a small stream which
the chemistry of nature has converted