The Monticellonian., 1895-01-11

manner that was grave, dignified, courteous.
 Uncle Albert" explained Cyril, with boyish eagerness, this is Miss Rosine Wilde"
 "Wildel" The old gentleman started perceptibly. He looked at the blush ing girl-at the yellowish gown. He bowed.
 And, avowed young Rodney, send ing his sweetheart swift smile of en- couragement, "and--the young lady of whom spoke to you"
 "Oh!' exclaimed Albert Ellsworth. Then, interrog gatiycly: Wilde? Was your fathers name Clayton Wilde2"
 Rosine asscntcd.
 And your mothers maiden name was Magnolia kingsley?"
 "Ohl dear. no Aunt Magnolia was never married. My mothers name was Madeline Kingsley"
 "Eh?" cried the dragon.
 The florid color had faded from his cheeks He was tugging nervously at his dark mustache. He looked agitated and perplexed.
 My mother died ten years ago." sdIu hoSlHe, dHu since then nave lived with Aunt Magnolia"
 Mir Ellsworth regarded her grimly.
 'ls that" he asked. abruptly, your aunt's gown you have on?"
 The soft rose fire in the girls cheek deepened.
 How in the world did you know?" she eeunter-questioned
 A queer, wavering smile was his only reply.
 A constrained silence ensued Cyril gave his uncle an astonishcd glance.
 "So Magnolia is an old maid2" said Mir. Ellsworth, abruptly.
 If she is," cried Rosine, stung to defense by remark she considered rule, 'it Is because she was true to lover who proved unworthy of herl'
 "Ehl" ejaculated MT. Ellsworth, more sharply than before. And sud denly he turned and walked away
 The following day he insisted on &C., companying his nephew to the gaunt, ramshackle, once aristocratic old house in the French quarter, where Rosine lived. Ae they were passing the vault cd entrance to the little Jagged court v familiar figure moving among the potted palms and boxes of blooms.
 "Go on, ladt' he said to Cyril. He had paused, and was looking through the brief avenue of gloom to the brightness beyond.
 Cyril was about to question this new vagary, when the thought of a peculiar possibility made him catch his breath and do as bidden. He knocked at the barred black door, and was admitted to Rosine's radiant presence. And meanwhile his uncle went into the courtyard. The little old lady stand ing by the banana tree looked at the sound of the step on the stones.
 "Magnolia!s' he cried.
 Miss Magnolia gazed at him in dazcd, half.frightened way. Did ghosts ever appear in the daytime? Stouter than he whom she had known, and with hair grown gray; but the same. Around her, in a fantastic dance, the broken fountain, the long-leaved banana tree and the giant oleanders went whirling. She didn't faint, but she came nearer to it than she ever had come in her life.
 Did you think had deserted you, Magnolia? When 1 left you to go north on business, believed in you as I've never believed in anyone since. And while away heard and read that you had married that young Wilde used to be so jealous of. So l went to Europe. And stayed there.'
 But Clayton Wilde married Made line. l always told you he came to see her"
 'Yes, l know that-now. I was fool to have been so easily convinced of your falsity. You haven't changed bit. knew you the moment l saw you"
 Miss Magnolia smiled delightedly. She did not know he had expected to see her.
 "I never forgot the dress you wore the last time l saw you.n declared Mr. Ellsworth, waxing fervent. Il recog nized it on your niece last night"
 Last night Are you-surely you are not the dragon?"
 "Wha-at?"
 "The-the dragonw faltered Miss Magnolia.
 Mir Ellsworth still looked blank.
 That" murmured the little lady, feeling she was in for it, and might as well make clean breast, was what Rosinc and called Cyrils uncle. And Rosine was going to conquer him"
 He burst out laughing.
 Well, she did. The boy shall marry Madclinc's pretty daughter. And you, Magnolia-you1l marry mef'
 '.0h, dear, mol Pm too old"
 Not das."
 And ugly-now."
 "Loveliest woman in the world to me-" insisted the dragon, Loyalty.
 "Bless you, my children, "cried voice from above,
 The pair in the courtyard glanced up, On one of the inner balconies stood Rosina and Cyril.
 Vanish, you scamps!" roared the dragon.
 Il shan't allow you to marry a south ern girl, sir!" shouted back Cyril, as he and Rosine beat brisk retreat.
 Laughing and breathless they faced eauh other In the old drawing-room. Every thing is lovely, sweetheartt cried Cyril, in an ecstasy.-Peninsular Home Journal.
 Happy Retrospect.
 Ministers have quite as many touch ing incidents as funny ones, in their duty of performing the marriage cere- mony for "all sorts and conditions of men" One such is told by clergy man who lived at some distance from the populous part of the town, and