The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-08-23

her hand, entered the room. She o, very small, slight woman. with 2 grave, lovable face and a pair of won. uerinl eyes. In their calm. clear l;gbt iay the secret of her power over fhs | nfty girls whom she ruled abso1,,aI,r witn glance or smile. She cam. gliding in more like spirit than n said ny u'"h' Laura, l have had dream, dear girl-a dreadful dream-and I am atrald. Let me stay here with you."
 50 she sat down and began in a low. trembling voice to tell of Laura's dead lnosher; Of her pure lofty womanhood, ana Of her love of her child. Laura scarcely heard her; the time was going iaster' 1t was close upon midnight, she must make an effort at once. So. dur ing moments pause, she said:
 Wlil madame try to sleep nowP"
 Yes, will put out the light, and we will both try"
 First, win madame permit me to co to olara.s room? l have left my things there, l shall not disturb anyone"
 In a moment madame's attitude changed her eyes scintillated with llght; all the caressing tenderness and sorrow of her voice and manner were gone. She was like an accusing spirit.
 Down on your knees, false girl, whom no memory of mothers love could soften! Down on your knees, and let your prayers strengthen the hands of those good angels who are lighting your evil genius this very mo- ment! Pray as those should pray whose purity and honor, whose very life and salvation hang upon villains wordT And, drawing the girl down beside her, she watched out with her those dangerous midnight hours.
 At 2 o'clock Laura was left to weep out alone her shame and her disap- pointment Madame had kissed and forgiven and comforted her with such comfort as was possible; but youth takes hardly the breaking of its idols, and it was bitter and humiliatiug to hear that this handsome Ernest was better known to the police courts than to the noble houses he talked about, and yet that she had chosen his soci- ety and had been willing to become his wife. Madame had not spared her; she had spoken plainly of gamblers wife and of thiefs home-of shames and horrors Laura tremblcd to recall adding:
 'l had willingly kept you ignorant of such things, for the knowledge of them takes the first bloom of purity from good girls heart; but, alas, Laura, if you will go forbidden roads, you must at least be warned of the sin and the sorrows that haunt them"
 Laura was i'll many days afterward. Madame had indeed forgiven her, but it was hard to forgive herself, and for long time even passing memory of her first lover brought tingling blush of shame to her cheeks and sicbening sense of disgrace and fright to her heart.
 It was ten years after this event, and Laura, with her two daughters, was driving slowly across Cannock chase. The pretty children sat on either side of her, and she drove the ponies slow ly, often stopping to let the little girls alight and pull a bluebell or handful of buttereups. During one of these stoppages, as she sat, with a smile on her handsome face, watching the hap py little ones, some one, coming from behind, touched her rudely on the arm. She turned and saw man in grimmy leather clothing, with an evil, cruel face, at her side.
 Supposing him to be one of the men employed in her husbands iron works, who had been discharged or who wanted help, she said:
 Well, what is it, sir?'
 The man answered curtly:
 Laura"
 Then Laura looked steadily into the dirty imbruted face. And in spite of soot and scars and bruises, she knew it.
 "Mr. Trelawny, why do"
 "Bosh! My name is Bill Yates. You fooled me once, my lady, but you will pay me for it now. I've been Jagged since then-sent across for seven years only got back six months since. Glad have found you, for l won't work any more now. Come, want flyer to start with"
 "A 'fiver?'"
 "Yes; a five-pound note"
 "I shall not give you penny"
 n Al