Year: 1859

little paper from her pocket, she unfolded q
few small coins-the same which had lain up
on the table before her when she sat alone in
| her desolate home


Here it is" she said his last gift a
few small coins-tdrss pieayunss and dime
generous gift to poor beggar for Christmas
I'll not mock the gift perhaps it was kindly
meant, and it shall be nsed for the purpose fit
ting we'll the giver. What weapons destiny
sometimes puts into our hands Perhaps the time
might never have come had | not met him so
strangely in the Park He did not know me-
Will he know me now We shall see Strange
that all my hatred, all my vengeance, all of
the deep sense of wrong which have harbor-
ed so long against him-now that my mind
realizes the last, vanish, aud leave me only
pity. Pity for him-pity, deepest pity, and
scorn for myself"


The carriage drew up in front of the prince
y St. Nicholas, and the door was again thrown
open.


Driver" said Jenny, l am suffering so
much that believe will not stop to see my
friends here tonight Please step into the
drug store, and get me some laudanum /; here
is the money, there picovunss and a dims do
not wish much, only little to apply to my
face get piece of cotton too-and stay-if
the man asks for what it is required, tell him
it is for neuralgia-that q lady is suffering
very much, and that her only remedy is lit
tie laudanum applied on cotton to her face
get the moneys ar0rth ~


The man soon returned, and handed her
quite large phial, which she took with
steady hand.


Where now. madam ?" be asked, still stand
ing BY the carriage side.


No.-Fifth Avenue ;" and once again the
door was closed, and the vehicle rolled over
the noiSeless snow toward the upper part of
the city.


The inmate sat Ike statue upon the seat
she looked no more upon the gay world-gay
in spite of the storm-which gave constant
evidence without of al unwonted holiday. II,
perchance, as the carriage turned through some
well-knowu street, or glided along the avenue,
she caught glimpse Of some happy home where
the bright lights within the parlor revealed
the family group gathered under the 'missletoe,"
or around the " Christmas tree she gave no
outward sign of heed, or any token that memo
rv brought back 10 her scenes when she O
maiden, fair and pure, was full as glad as they
and blessed with full as bright aud proud sur
roundings. Her hand, pressed tight against
Der bosom, rested upon the viper phial, which
nestled there unconscious Of its fatal errand.


The contrasts Of life are very marked, and
strange. and inscrutable Beside the palace
turks the hovel, the church, the prison, the
beautiful the deformed, the good, the depray-
ed. the altar. the tomb Within great city
like New York these contrasts are more vivid
" perceptible than in smaller places, or in the
quiet walks of country life but nowhere else
could one remark a stranger contrast than be-
tween the princely home OF Gilbert Ihorne and
the miserable tenement which had been the
abode of Jenny Irwin.


Ga the Fifth Avenue-the great street which
fashion. and wealth. and luxury have claimed
a their abode-stands the house Of Gilbert
Thorne It's exterior differs bot little from
the rest Of the habitations in the block, but
its broad and deep entrance, its por.scochers,
the heavy copings Of its windows, and the
gorgeous curtains. half revealed through the
rich plate paneS, aIl stamp It as the residence
OF man of taste and wealth.


Here. on the evening of our story. was
gathered Joyous group of youth and childhood
the guests Of Mary Thorne. The deep parlors,


lighted with brilliant chandeliers and furnished
with magnifcence which might we'll compare
with some of the richest Partisan saloons of the
davs of Louis XIV, were throHged with as
JOYOUS and happy group as ever danced
around the Christmas tree The Youthful
hostess. girl Of some fifteen years, the daught-
er of Gilbert Thorne, and his only child. moved
among her guests With sweet and chiid-hke
grace, added to quetnly dignity of manner,
which won the hearts Of all beholderS, and
caused those Of her parents to beat With un-
wonted pride.


Among this happy throng, with q smile and
a cheerful word for at, with hearty welcome
and iovous greeting alike for the children
and their parents. aud with an easy graceful
ness of manner which adapted itself to every
mind and state now dancing with child OF
ten. and now with grand-dane Of seventy
Gilbert Thorne. The host aud the fond parent,
mingled 10 all appearances, as happy and
light OF heart as the gayeSt Of them al OOe
used 10 study the human heart through its out
ward manifestations, through the subtle ex-
preSsions which are caught in calm placid eYeS,
or in the firm immovable mouth, or the vailed
muscles OF the face, might have formed diff
ferent opinion OF the character Of Gilbert
ThoTne from that usually entertained Of him by
his friends Indeed, there were those who said.
notwithstanding his wealth, luxury. aud posi-
tio0. ne would give them all 70 wipe out some
Of the experiences OF his past life +; that, wher-
ever he went, in sll Of his brightest and proud
est moments, in the midst Of bis triunphs, pen
etrating even the Peacelnl saactuaries Of home.
following him through the courts and upon the
. mart. treading the busy streets, aud keeping
with him always, everywhere. pale spectre OF
the past haunted his existence, and ike the
skeleton at the FEAST dashed the cup OF
pleasure ever from his lips. But to the world
at large, TO his everyday friends and to bis &C
, custoned associates, even unto his own house
hold, he seemed, and was known only SIS the
wealthy, gay, liberal, and successful lawyer
+ and Totsry OF fashion, with something more oi