Year: 1877

Montague Garthorn, met him now foI
the first time, with her bright baby
face covered with bushes. and with
her tiny hands held out to him to help
her lift on to the seat large parcel she
had with her.


SIT is new dress have bought al
Westbourne Grove" she told him, ''and
am going to sit up to make it to 60 to
a ball."


He was charmed with the simplicity
of the child, as he considered her, and
condescendingly asked her her age.


Seventeen, soon," she answered.
And then all the color seemed TO die
out of her cheeks and leave her very
pale. He watched her for some time,
and then her merry voice broke his
reverie by saying:


81 have been ill; this is the first time
l have been out. Father would scarcely
let me come; but wanted my dress SO
much;" and then, without waiting for
any remark from Mr.. Garthorn, she
asked him if he had ever been to a ball,
and what they were like.


''Yes, child, many. Goodbye. This
is my station"


'It is mine, too," Nellie answered +;
sand father said he would meet me and
carry my parcel home"


What less could Montague do than
assist her to alight and carry her par
Gel up stairs? and then, not finding
any one waiting for her, he could not
do less than offer TO carry it home.
And in that little walk how his heart
went out to this child, who had not an
idea beyond the moments pleasure,
who found life so bright, although her
father kept chemist shop in back
street and let lodgings. Why not leave
her as she is-happy, young, heart
whole and in smooth water? Why
force her into stormy weather when she
is now so safe? But already the harm
is done, and Montague is fascinated IA
tally by this child, in whose nature
there is no depth, and who could never
feel anything, whether of pain or joy,
with half the keenness that Opal can.


The beautiful blue eyes look without
flinching into his as she MARBLES forth
an invitation to come and have supper.


s'We are not grand; we only have
water-cresses In the shop-parlor.


He goes in, and Nellie Wylde's father
thanks him, and the back parlor is pa
radise, the watercresses food for the
gods, the theatre forgotten; and as he
looks at and listens to Nellie, Opal, in
the cool back drawing room has become
a thing of the past.


"What ball are you going 10, Miss
Wylde?'


"At Aunt Mary's; their first floor is
empty, and they are going to have a
dance. Call me Nellie-every one does /;
it seems too grown-up to call ME Miss
Wylde?"


"That is not a real ball, but if you
would like TO 60 to one of the best balls
in London, | will take you to Willis
Rooms tomorrow night


SO, father, say 'Yes!'" said Nell, as
she threw her arms around his neck.


81 don't know what is right to say"
ruminated Mr.. Wylde; .only as YOU
have very little pleasure and no mother,
perhaps it would not be any HARM"


So it was settled that beautiful,
bright Nellie was to make her first en-
try into London society.


Montague at last tore himself away
from the enchanted chemists shop.
Now came the time to think-to think
OF what he had done. OF course, it was
TOO late TO go TO the theatre; in fact,
everything seemed too late now that the
door of Mr.. Wylde's house was shut.
What had he done? Promised to take
Nellie TO ball, and he was engaged TO
20 TO dinner-party with Opal. What
should he do? Go home and make the
best of his dilemma. Next morning
Montague knew something must be
done; so he got his writing materials
and intended to write to Nellie to tell
her he could not take her to the ball /;
but directly he began the vision of those
blue eyes filled with tears and that
smiling mouth pouting was too much
for him, so he changed his mind and
wrote briefly to Opal ''that unforeseen
circumstances prevented him from 60
ing out to dinner with her tomorrow. "
Opal is so good natured she won't mind.
He thought little of her breaking heart,
though he thought so much of her tear
full blue eyes.


Nellie and Mr.. Garthcrn went to the
ball and enjoyed it. Nellie looked lovely
in her fresh white muslin dress and
Montague's gift of real flowers. When
he left her at home, he longed for the
moment when he should see her next.
On his return he found letter from
Opal, full of tender regrets at his ab-
sence, and assurances of her love. lie
resolved never to see Nellie again, and
to marry Opal as soon as possible. How
easy 1t is TO make resolutions at night
and how difficult to carry them out in
the broad day.


The following afternoon Mr.. Gar
thorn called at Opal's and left his card,
for he found her out. Then, what more
natural than he should see how Nellie
wasafter her dissipation He found her at
her home-beautiful, blushing, charm
ing, full of gratitude for the pleasure OF
the ball, and winning as only those
childish women with big blue eyes can
be.


Her father was in the shop; so they
were alone, and before Montague knew
what he was doing he had avowed his
passion to Nellie, and she had confessed
that she was "very fond of him and OF
balls at Willis Rooms"


Opal, driving in the Park, was strain
ing her eyes TO see the beloved form OF
Montague Garthorn among the crowd
of men leaning over the railings.


Day after day Mr.. Garthorn spen,
with Opal, and evening after evening