, 1896-12-30

their parcels. and each found q beautiful
morocco Jewel case, opening which, they saw
lying on the white silk lining Of each O
Beautiful gold bracelet. The two bracelets
were nearly, though not quite, alike. They
? were made Of the finest gold, and were IN the
form Of coiled snakes, the pasternso tthe snakes
backs initiated in chasing, their eyes repre-
ssnted bv two fine diamonds, anal their tails
surrounded by rings Of very small bG illiants.
The girls were delighted. and mmedia tely
called Amy, whose room opened into theirs,
to come and sec their presents. Amy too was
pleased, and looked very happy; but when
her cousins asked about her gift, expecting
that she had receiNs I'd something still mere
valuable and more beautiful. she brought to
them only II small glass vase IN which were
q dozen choice loSe-buds Nesting 4aneng
the flowers was = tiny envelope addressed to
her, from which the cousins, at her request,
drew Edwards card, on the back Of which
lie had written:
As richest tints tbo fide1 petals of these
flowers
Hide from your view.
So may the New Year hide within It's
coming hours
Bright joys for you.
4nough there we're no Jewels for her. Amy
was not disappointed She knew nething
about Edwards means, but she knew that he
had prospsrsd. and she suspected that it was
easier for him TO give q beautiful Jewel than
to search out the roses and write The lines,
and she valued the distinction which, as it
seemed to her, had been made in Esr favour.
Fanny and Sophie, rs they road the lines
and locked at the roses, had similar thoughts,
but without Jealousy, for they had other
attractions, and only thought of Edward as
their rich, handsome cousin.
When Amy went back to her room
she road Edwards lines over and over
again. and tAo tears cam, into her
sves. lie had told them all that it was
his intention to leave them very early
in the Now Year for London, where lie had
some business to do, aud then to take a teur
in Italy, a country whioh he had often longsd
to see; and in May he would start for the
Cane. He would soon leave her once more,
Amy reflected, and then where would be
the bright joys that he had wished for
her? Alas there would DC nothing bus
xrisf for her; and the tears flowed abundant"
ly at the til u xht. However, she dried her
sves and went out to receive Edwards graet-
ing and thauk him for his gift. And so
eel liked the flowers, Amy" he said. Very
much indeed, she answered, but the sad
thoughts came baok, and in spite .of all her
Efforts the tears again stood in thsr eyes. He
guessed her thoughts, and had he followed his
f.slinss. would chem ard there have told her
that it rested with her to decide whether he
should ever leave her again, but he controlled
himself and only said tendsrly, "What, little
girl ?" Whoreupon she dashed away the
tsfr drops with her handkerchief, and said,
"Fm foolish, Edward, don't mind NO." Then
she turned the conversation in another direo-
ton. and in the pleasure OF the present tried
to forget the fear of the future.
1t was a very beautiful day, and Edward
proposed that all the youug people should
take a walk in the afternoon. The choice of
their destination lay with him, and he aug
gested the woods whers he had taksa Amy
on the nutting excursion twelve Years before.
f amy and Sophie were delighted, and 40
ths party was to be joined by some of the
vour@ friends who had been with them on
Christmas evening, the walk promised to be
q very ell Enjoyable one.
Such it proved to be Tor them all. As they
nAared tho woods Edward allowed the others
to leave Amy and himself a little behind, and
when they came to the scene of his oft re-
called picture, he asked Amy if chs remem-
bsrsd the spot. She did, indeed, had never
forgotten it, she said. Then turning sudden
!, " towards her, and taking both her hands In
His he said Neither have | ever forgotten IL