Year: 1878

|
prodigy, who was now a wcll-grown
young woman, swept along in rustling
white silk that the dressmaker wouldn't
let Jenny do even the cOrding for. On
they went, and Jenny's heart swelled
big with pride, then sank with mortif-
cation. for two fine ladies near her, lean
ing upon the arms of a good d-natured
looking gentleman, began all at once to
cavil at poor Jenny, who had never in
her whole life said evil of anybody.


The mamma appears to be invisible"
said one of them "They say she is
shut up in the coal hole upon these oc-
! casions; and no wonder, when one thinks
of the blunders of the poor creature"
Perhaps she's in the Kitchen said
the other. 6 have heard that is where
Mr. Mac Neil first found her
| Then up spoke the good-natured-
looking gentleman, and said that if she
could make good ragout there, her
husband ought to rise up and call her
blessed, for it was finer accomplish
ment than any he could remember; and
one thing was certain, she was far
prettier woman than most Of them there
that night.


But Jenny did not hear this and if
she had, it would not have comforted
her.


A little later on one of their old
friends, the wife of a journeyman print
er, in the dear old neighborhood of the
forsaken nest, was startled by the APP
partition of comely face, dear to the
olden time of merriment and song, but
now blurred with tears; and the tale
she told, Mrs. M Shane anticipated ev-
cry word of.


! My poor bairnie," she said, Il knew
how twOuld be when saw Macs way
of going on. His stuck-up airs and his
talk, strophes and symphonies and out
landish heathenism BODIED no good. But
so long as have roof, you shall share
it,


But Jenny was Independent, and soon
got situation far above the one in
which she first saw her husband. AS
luck would have it, the old rooms were
just vacated. Mrs M'Shane had most
Of the old furniture; so, before the
month was out Jenny was back in her
nest, but sick at heart, and sometimes
ready to die.


In the meantime we must run back
month to the scene of festivity where
we left the Mac with his head high in
the air, and the skirts Of the musical
prodigy trailing full yard behind her
Neither of them missed Jenny till the
splendid repast was ready, and the
guests were not discOnsOlate for the So
society of their hostess. But now in
deed, it was time for Jenny to take her
rightful place; and with many an in
ward prayer that she would be as little
unequal to the occasion as could be eX
pected of her, and resolve to caution
her to speak only when necessary, and
a certainty in his heart that she would
at least be pleasant to look upon, Mr.
Mac Neil awaited his wife. | needn't
say he waited in vain; and, two or three
of the servants not being able to find
her, Mr. Mac Neil, in high displeasure,
sent Shiel off with a peremptOry order
for her immediate appearance before
him Shel hunted high and low, and
came back to his partner with wild
look of alarm in his face, and his now
scanty locks almost on end.


She's clean gone!--not sign of her"
he said


Mr.. Mac Neil was more mad than
grieved, for he knew she'd come in he
said, at the fag-end of the feast, and
spoil everything. She's run out for
something somewhere" said poor Mac,
little thinking of the nature of her er-
rand. He made an apt excuse to his
daughter, and the supper went on sue
cessfully. Poor Shicl ate never mouth
full. and his face was as white and bland
as if he had seen ghost; but nobody
minded Shcl In truth, Macs own ap-
petite was little frustrated and as
the night wore away he was heartily
glad to see the people trooping out to
their carriages. When all were gone, a
little upstairs maid, who had been al
ways civil to poor Jenny, put a little
note into Macs hand, saying that her
mistress told her not to give it to him
till the festivity was over Mac opened
it with trembling hand, and read poor
Jenny's scrawl:


I'm gone for good and all, dearie
For long time I've seen that you and
my darling child were beyond me in ev-
erything. | can never get up to you;
so please forgive me if | stop by the
way. God bless and prosper you, is the
prayer of your faithful JENNy."
Mac handed it over to Shiel, and drop
ped into chair as if struck by an un-
seen hand. The air was a little heavy
with the breath of his artistic guests
who had just departed, and the sent of
the exotics sickened his nostrils; the
big blaze of light grew dim about him,
and all he could see for that weary min
ute was the sweet face of a young Eng
lish girl he had known and loved almost
beyond his strength, long time ago.


Shiel had read the note for the sixth
time, his face growing more and more
distracted and imbecile, and had begun
to read it over again. when Mac cried
out in broken voice, Gould any vii
lain be at the bottom of this, Shiel?-
could any one have tampered with her
loyalty?'


"Never,' cried Shiel, Indignantly.
"I'll answer that with my life. | know
how foolishly faithful she was-never
an eye or an ear for anybody else. |
know that by experience. Many's the
the time I've tried to console her my
self for your Indifference.


My what?' roared poor Mac. .


Your Indifference and neglect sir!
eric 4 Shiel, now aroused to the pitch OF
recklessness. "She was Il pearl OF pur-
! ity and sweet simplicity, but she was
cast before swine, sir!'


"Shiel, you are always more or less
of fool" groaned Mac, and now
you'r re clean daft" But he listened to
Shiel as he went on to give him piece
of his mind, and took heart as he gath
cred in the evidences Of Jenny's wound
love. Shell be back before twenty
four hours" sale Mac, and we'll all be
the happier for this little bout


But twenty-four hours went by, and
forty eight; whole week passed away,
and no Jenny came to lift the weight
from Macs heart Shiel advised him
to secretly consult the police, at which
Mac first revoltcd, then succumbed; but
with no success. A fortnight went by,
and even Shiel forgave every fault OF
Macs, 50 deep and sincere were his sor-
row and pcnitence. The musical alb
straction of Miss Jean served in meas
ure to mitigate her grief, and an emf
nent professor had offered her the warm
est sympathy and consolation man can
offer; but poor Mac hated the thought
OF sound of music now, and would have
no commisseration save that of Shiel,