The silver star., 1898-03-17

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Mined. she had the same happy smile,
and neat. trim appearance that he so
well remembered.
You will find Fanny a good deal
altered" he said, as he took a seat by
her side.
Jenny cast somewhat surprised
glance at the grave face of the speaker.
Why? How? Has she been ill?"
We'll, no; can't say that she has
been ILL.," was the hesitating reply;
but she-she's changed. Marriage
don't seem to have agreed with her
very WE'LL"
The laugh that ended these words
sounded rather forced. Perhaps he
ieit the implication conveyed in them
or. rather. the fact itself.
Jenny looked earnestly into the
frank kindly face of the speaker.
was 1t his fault? for there must be
a fault somewhere.
The house. as the carriage stopped
in front. looked as IL it was all shut
up.
II Jenny had expected to see her
cousin In the hall she was disappointed.
Fred looked slightly disconnected as
he glanced around.
"Fanny's in her room, l suppose: I'll
hunt her up"
"Ah! there you are, Fam"
Here dowdily-dressed woman made
her appearance at the other end OF the
hall. whom Jenny would have failed
to recognize had 1t not been for the
warm embrace and eager greeting.
After leading the way to the dark,
and rather untidy. sitting-room, Fan
ny's animation. all at once, forsook
her. and. throwing herself upon the
SOFA. she burst into tears, much to Jen-
ny's surprise and CONSERVATION.
THE sight Of you reminds me SO OF
the happy past!" sighed Fanny, as she
wiped away her tears.
And the present is no less happy,
l hope?" suggested Jenny, feeling for
her cousins husband, who looked fool
ishly conscious that he was. In some
way. considered to be at fault.
Fanny's only reply was a mournful
shake OF the head. which. rightly in
terpreted. meant that she never ex
pected to be SO happy again so long as
she lived.
Putting his hands in his pockets.
Fred walked to the window, whistling
softly to himself. with an ill-dissembIed
air Of unconcern.
III you knew how that noise goes
through my-h head. Fredw remonstrat-
cd ranny. as she rang for Ann to take
away her cousins things.
Fred ceased whistling, taking him
self out OF the room at the same time.
Fanny gave her cousin a look. as
much as to say. you see what have to
put up with.
AS soon as the door closed after her
husband. Fanny's countenance lost its
disconsolate. abused expression. and
she commenced talking with her WIS.,
itor with considerable spirit and AMI
nation.
Jenny. now. had opportunity to OBJ.
serve her more particularly.
1t was nearly dinner time. and still
she had on the calico wrapper that she
had worn at breakfast: not much
soiled. but still faded and wrinkled.
She wore neither cuffs nor collar.
while her pretty brown hair-pretty
when properly cared for - was
smoothed over the top. and tucked
back OF her ears in tangled punches.
Her feet were thrust into n pair of
old slippers. much too large for her,
and down at the heels.
As Jenny looked at her she could
hardly believe that It was her cousin.
Fanny Burns. who always used to look
fresh and neat, SO smiling and happy.
From the habit Of giving way to all
her peevish and discontented feelings
as they arose. It seemed impossible for
her to look pleasant now when she
tried. while her very voice. which used
to have such a clear and cheerful ring,
had become infected by them.
In answering and asking questions
the time passed rapidly. until It was
nearly time for dinner.
Il had NO idea It was SO near din
ner-time." said Jenny. rising to her
feet. % she glanced at her watch. II
shall hardly give you time to DRESS"
"oh! sha'n't make any change in
my dress: there'li be nobody but hus-
band At dinner. and you won't mind"
mo. certainly. I sha'n't mind"
There was more than this on Jen.
ny's lip. but she checked herself
This was not the right time to speak.
even II she had any right to speak at
all.
There could scarcely bs . greater
contrast than those two presented At
the dinnsr-table. both Of nearly the
same age. and both endowed with more
than usual personal attractions.
A. the time Of her marriage Fanny
had bssn called the prettier, but Il was
quite the contrary now. and al the dif-
ference lay in the dress and expression.
Not that Jenny's attire was either
gay or expensive.
The dress was . simple merino. sim
ply made and trimmed. but II fitted
neatly kkA neat waist Of the Wearor.