Year: 1864

else bad singular facility IN trauSlating the
movement of Roses tripping lips, for. though
at the other side OF the wide parlor. when. with
g furtiye glance st him, and low, thrilling
laugh. she said something to Brandou about
the Black Prince. he made his way al once
from the parlors, and, dep9ting bis farewell
conrteSies TO friend, left the house.


Among the throng, but not of them, paced
William Dexter banker and millionaire. Ii
was so rare-his presence in such ScepeS-eveu
10 his own hoaSe. that few knew him even, aud
from those who did he kept mostly aloof A
grave, silent man. watching from under nearly
gray brows-watehing and commenting with
inward discomfort.


The two emotions, passions. affections OF this
mans life had been vested in gold and kindred
the getti3g the one aud lavishns ii upon
the other His life need not have been sterile.
The one warmth and wideness and soflneSs,
ought to bave protected it from the barrenness
and hardness that the other gendered. Yet
his life wa. sterile, barren desert, as rock in
an unfru,ful country.


He had shaved, toied like any bouiman.
early and late, that be might surround those
two. Raymond and Rose with this and this
and his, no matter if ii cost lis weight in gold.
so long as be had it. And the two were as
prodigal as might be expected of that Of the
value of which they had 10 appreciation
beyond The pleasure II purchased.


He had refused them nothing all their lives
that it was possible for him to grant them, and
the possibility had a wide tange. And what
was his reward? He was pacing the parlors
still when the last guest, Frank Brandon,
lingering long, iAlally departed, with au
expressive pressure of little Roses hand.


William Dexter knew this young man for 4
scoundrel, Notwithstanding his frauk face and
genial ways. and had forbidden Rose to hold
any intercourse with him long enough before
this evening He had supposed himself obeycd;
but this evenings observation bad shown him
that, far from that being the case. the two
were on surprisingly familiar terms.


Rose"


The girl turned from her light good night to
young Brandon with a little nervous start. She
had BOT been conscious OF her fathers presence
all the evening, and she colored some now upon
becoming aware of ii, aud remembering at the
same time what be had said to her about
Frank Brandon.


Mr.. Dexters anger, under constrant all the
evening, burst forth now with proportionate
violence Rose shraDk palely before it, and at
the first hull in the storm escaped TO ber apart
ment. This was not all the evenings happen
ing. In an earlier portion of it, Mr.. Dexter
had overheard conversation between some of
the guests which had sung him with the truth
that had long been knocking at the door OF his
Consciousness, but to which he had refused TO


listen until now. 1t concerned Raymond and
RAYMOND entering the room Just then from an
adjoining one, he turned upon him suddenly
with quotation from it that struck him sud
denly white between anger and amazement


"'Ravmond Dexter had in him originally
the material for a man, but more conceited,
brainless coxcomb than he is l don't know in
the whole range of my acquaintance.


RAYMOND caught his breath fairly. The
words expressed so nearly thought that had
been vaguely trying 10 thread The chambers of
bis brain ever since Victoria Fields refusal to
become bis wife. The spark that lurked under
the effeminacy leaped suddenly now into fame
and died as quickly.


"Whose fault is it, father?" be said low, but
bitterly, and left the room abruptly.


William Dexter, pacing those magnificent
parlors amidst the unquenched blaze of light
that famed all through them, pondered this
question, but found no solution Of it. Whose
fault was it? Not his. What could man do
more than he had done for bis childIen-for



Raymond?


Raymond, pacing his own apartment awhile,
and finally with an impatient shrug throwing
himself dressed as be was upon his bed, found
no solution for it either. Waking in the
morning, Victoria Fields crystal toy dangled
before him, and flashed taunting CLEANS in his
ewes as the sun struck it. With an impatient
movement he swept the curtain between him
and it, What did the girl mean by telling him
she wished be would break the flask? What
would become of her young oak if be did that?
4 plague upon the cold, strange girl. There
were plenty of w0meD-women worth having
too-who would have jumped at the offer she
had refused. There was Laura Mason, now,
the handsomest woman in New York, and the
ceverest. She hadn't any fault TO find in him,
and be wouldn't have been afraid TO wager any
sum anybody pleased that if be had asked her
to be his WIFE she would have said YES" and
thank you" too. He had half a mind 10 set up
q Irritation with her, just to show Victoria Field
how little be was affected by her antiquities


4 week only had passed but 10 the fast life
which be lived Raymond Dexter had improved
it TO the extent of becoming or imagining
himself desperately in love with Laura Mason.
One morning, in aIelesS. Of hand manner
very different from that on similar occasion,
about ten days before he asked her the same
question he had Victoria Field, and got 10
substance his yes thank You" Coming home,
hiding himself in bis own room, the first thing
he saw was Miss Fields crystal flask, which
be forthwith dashed from lis bracket ignomin-
iously, saving primly, as be surveyed the frag-
ments, You told me to break it." Then
seeming to feel the light, white touch upon his
arm, the beautiful eyes upon his face, sudden
remorse seized him, and, carefully gathering up
the mutialed remains of the poor "potted
acorn" be took them into the conservatory,
and dislodging superb African lily from lis
vase, deposited bis young oak therein.


That night William Dexter coming home
late, and tottering under some burden as though
the weight of twice his years had suddenly
settled upon him. clung to the door post 10 the
hall and listened TO the murmur Of voices that
came from the drawing room beyond.


Rose and Raymond were both there. No,
that was not Raymonds voice. and suddenly
throwing wide the door, he entered and stood