Year: 1878

In the elegantly furnished drawing
room OF West.end mansion sat ayoung
man, whose gentccl bearing, broad, no.
BILE brow, from which his chestnut hair
was tossed back in graceful carelessness,
and large, thoughtful eyes bespoke him
to be one OF natures noblemen. He
was evidently waiting impatiently tor
some Que; for, as a slight noise was
heard on the landing, he would start,
and fix his eyes eagerly upon the door.


At last, apparently unable to sit still
any longer, he arose. aud, walking to
the window, stood tapping nervously on
the glass, and watched with listless
eyes the chameleon like crowd that
passed. While thus occupied he failed
to hear slight rustic as girlish figure
entered the room and gliding softly to
his side touched him lightly upon the
arm. His quick start and the loving,
gentle manner in which he gathered her
to his heart showed at glance that they
were lovers.


While they hold sweet converse let us
pause mome while describe my
heroine.


She was OF medium height, of slen-
der, delicate figure, and possessed nof a
nameless grace of movement, which,
added to her other charms, had won her
the name among her many admirers of
"Nellie, the Irresistible" Her beauty
was of the true blonde type, and clad as
she was in a shining blue dress she
looked worthy of the name. On her
arms cleaned with q tawny luster broad
golden bands; and from one of these,
suspended by a small chain, hung a
tiny heart shaped locket, one side of
which bore a forget-me-nOt set of tur-
quoise, with brilliant diamond spark
ling in the center.


Guy Hartley, for such was our hero's
name, had called, glad of an excuse, to
acquaint Nellie with some arrangement
which he had just completed with regard
to their soon approaching marriage; and,
after O short time passed in pleasant
conversation, he reluctantly rose, and,
bidding a tender adieu to the fair
girl, left the house with firm, elastic
tread.


Hardly had he taken his departure
when the front door bell again rang, and
once more a young gentleman was
ushered into the drawing-room. The
newcomer was tall and slight, with jet
black hair, and piercing look III the
black eyes that boded no good to an
enemy. As he sank into a chair, some
thing glistening upon the floor caught
his eye; and as he recognized it he could
scarce refrain from shout of pleasure
for Fred Acton had long been the secret
rival of Guy, each striving to win the
hand of fair Nellie Pomeroy. And now
as he held in his grasp the tiny locket
which by some evil chance had become
detached from the bracelet on Nellie'I
arm, he felt that he possessed an almos
certain means of revenge on Guy, anC
stand, perhaps, a better chance OF win
ming the fair girl for his wife; for th'
locket, as he knew, had been Guys frs
love-gift to Nellie, and was priced as on
of her choicest possessions.


At this moment the footman entere,
the parlor, presenting Miss Pomeroy'
regrets, and a request that MIR. Actol
would excuse her that afternoon. Th
truth was that with her womanly intui
ton she had long OWNED the secre
which he had thought known to hlmsel
alone; and, having ever treated him wit
polite indifference, she felt less incline
now than ever to endure a tete-G-tel