Year: 1868

Wen don t think anybody can ever
deceive me again, on that day Once in a
lifetime is enough for any sensible person to
be tricked on the first day of April" And
pretty Mabel Hughes looked defiance of all
jokes, tossing back her sunny eurls with a
little white hand, and flashing a merry sau-
cy look at the company around her.


There was quite group of young folks,
assembled to dance the old year out, and
the new year in. Mabel Hughes took prece-
dence at most of the village gatherings, by
right of acknowledged belleship, and her
father large hospitable house was the rem
devious on the present occasion. The young
folks had been discussing anniversaries, and
while on that theme April FOOLS day had
place in the list of memorable days of the
year. Mabel had been fooled the year be-
fore by gift of an exquisite basket con-
tanning apparently clusters of rich red straw
berries, far in advance of the New England
season. With little cry of pleasure she
had put one of the luscious locking berries
into her mouth, to find it a painted decep-
ton; Laughing, yet thoroughly in earnest,
she had vowed never again to believe in q
gift or speech of the date again.


As she now made her speech she looked
full in the face of the supposed perpetrator
OF the last years jokes. and was answered
I.
fully equal to fun of any sort


Il can deceive you again" he declared in
answer to her implied challenge. You
have no idea how pretty you looked when
you curled up your nose aud puckered your
lips over that berry"


Why where were you


In the hall enjoying the joke.


We'll make the most of the recollection,
tor you will never see me In Ike Scrape
sgsin.


Until next April


"NeverI'


well see 1 shall take the next three
months to invent something absolutely i'm
penetrable.


Il defy you =


"Hark -


Slowly the peal of bells from the neigh
boring church sounded the midnight hour
As the first stroke fell upon the air, the
group rose to their feet. joined hands, in
ring, and SO stood motionless till the last
echo died away Then Happy New Year"
burst simultaneously from their lips, and af-
ter joyous greeting all around, the party
separated, and the house was soon wrapped
IN darkness and repOse.


so John Martyr will play me another
trick this year." thought Mabel, the next
mOrnng,as she stood before her glass twist
ing the bright curls round her fingers. He
may try his best. but he will not catch me
again. Heigh-ho he will have other things
to think of by that time, and perhaps will
forget ME altogether.


For John Martyr was going into the
world to seek his fortune. One year ago he
had left college, having spent his whole
small patrimony to obtain an education. He
mad left home frank bright boy, with un-
formed manners, country bred youth In
all senses. He had come home frank and
sunny as ever, but with the quiet courtesy
Oh gentleman, and an education won by IN
tense application during the entire college
course. One year he had given to home,
hough alone in his cottage brotbsrleSs
orphan. He had not intended to stay so
ighg but there was magnetism In Mabel
hughes dark eyes that bound him to the
Village, until the admiration deepened into
sincere, earnest love and then the convlc-
aon grew that he must win wealth before
ae dared tell his passion.


Mr. Hughes was wealthy, lawyer In
good Practice, but there were nine children
nithe Injurious home, and the estate would
give but moderate competency to each one.
John Martyr was not the man to woo Ma
pel from her home, unless he could offer at
lsaSt comfort in his own, and he had drain
9 his purse in the year following his return


non college Somewhere in Texas he had
y uncle who had written to him that he
aaa an opening for an enterprising young
Ian, as stock farmer.
l am very DID," so the letter ran, "and


IT poor, so you must not come out here


nm any idea of finding wealth made to your


I1nd You will have to work hard-very


rnd, rsrd, but if you are not afraid of that, [


y. ~ give you a start drawn from experience,


-Ts shake down in my rancho.


g, % ne had written and his nephew gladly


"epted his invitation. He had remained