Year: 1879

and alighted fearlessly on her head, hel
hands and her shoulders. Mamms'f
forgiveness was won by the picture.


To Joe, looking from below, the vision
was even more picturesque: the dormer'
window in the gray roof ovelhung with
vines Of woodbine AID wistaria, the dark
recess relieving the sun-lit figure, the
smiling face welcoming the birds.


As years passed on, the three pretty
schoolgirls became winning and won
young ladies. Belle married first, then
Jane, and now Caroline was engaged to
be married to Charlie Evans, in spite Of
the remonstrance Of many Of her friends,
who knew the young man to be as un-
principled in morals as he was handsome
in person.


Willful Caroline answered to all re.
monstranoe; j have loved him all my
life; 1 like him; and have promised to
be his wife.


On the day that this engagement was
announced, Joe sailed from America to
study in Italy his art.


There had been a stormy scene the
night before. When Caroline deliber.
ately told Joe that her hand was irrevo-
cably promised TO his long dreaded rival,
Joe's anguish was something too com,
plete to be hidden; itsintensity and force
shocked Caroline. She knew not what
to say to this faithful lover of years to
alleviate his pain. She boldly sprang
to the defensive, and then to an aggres-
sive course. She sharply, almost coarse
ly, reproved him for having lavished his
heart upon one who could not by any
possibility return his affection.


They parted more in anger than in
sorrow. Such was Caroline's caprics;
and Joe, renouncing all hope of happi-
ness, tried to draw consolation from the
sole reflection: L have my art


One August night, month before the
time fixed for Oarolines marriage, a
message was brought to her from the
village that lay in the beautiful valley
at the foot of the rolling uplands of
Deersfeld. Close under the gateways
thero lived young woman who had
been for several years seamstress at the
mansion, and who, gathering together
all her earnings, established herself,
with her aged mother, in the modest
cottage which she hoped to call home
for happy lifetime. But ceaseless toll
with the needle told upon her strength
and she had fallen victim to consump.
ton. Her days were nearly numbered,
and she had sent the message ro her
dear Miss Caroline, who had always
been 30 indulgent, to please to come
soon as possible to receive dying wo-
mans request,


Caroline, although the hour was late,
said Il will go at once As was her in.
dependent way, she started forth on her
errand unattended, and bidding her
mother good night, added, DO not be
alarmed if I remain until daybreak.


The house she entered was cottage
so built that its porch had double en-
frances. One Of these opened into the
dwelling of the poor seamstress; the
other had been occupied since May by
master.workman in a factory beyond
the village, himself stranger to the
region, who brought with him as house
keeper his daughter, a girl of unusual
beauty, rustic queen, blonde Of that
vital temperament which gives to youth
full health its most expressive form.
This daughter, Mag Merritt, became the
village belle.


AS Caroline entered the porch the
Merritt's portion OF the cottage was quite
still and dark. On the other side the
lattice was thrown open upon a garden
crowded with fragrant plants, and q
faint light cleaned out. The light was
burning in the chamber, where, after
word with the sinking sufferer and the
mother enfeebled by grief, Caroline de-
cided to remain all night.


Before midnight the purpose for
which the mistress of Deersheld had
been summoned was duly conAded to her
ear; and then sleep fell on the sufferer,
and Caroline, having dismissed the aged
watcher, was alone. She turned the
lamp low and drew her chair by the
window, where the perfume of the gar
den 6oated in-the mingled breath of
carnation and rose. For years after that
night the scent Of those precious flowers
sent a faintness to Carries heart and a
pallor to her lips like the poison of
deadly plants.


Near midnight, when all was still save
the midsummer insects humming in the
trees, and the distant rippling of the
brook, approaching voices were heard.


Two people were coming along the
lane. Words indistinct at first, grew
clear as they came near. They we're
| lovers voices and lovers words.


Mag, my darling


oh, Charlie, if it we're not for that.


If it were not for that you would go
with me; we would fly to the far West,
to California. You would be queen,
Mag, in the unconventional new world.
We would go together to morrow--yes,
tomorrow, my love. my only love-


TO morrow, dear boy, il it were moi
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