Year: 1877

her steadfast to her promise, and she made no reply.

 John Bramwell, at length mortified with the calm indifference which his homage won from Mary Marley, ceased all outward show of it, and paid atten- tion equally to every new and pretty face, and seemed determined to dazzle or charm without really loving any but the obdurate Miss Marley. He went deeper and deeper into the frivolities of society than ever, and night after night attended balls and other fashionable amusements. If he hoped to pique Mary Marley, he made an egregious miscal- culation. She heard of his pastime with scarcely a word of surprise, and continued her calm and indifferent de- meanor.

 It was in early winter that Bramwell was one night late returning from a party with some gentlemen companions, that a cry of fire was raised as they were crossing a street. The party at once halted to observe the direction of the disaster, when suddenly the flames rolled out of the doors and windows of a frame dwelling near at hand. Bram- we'll and his companions went at once to the spot and found the house already burning like furnace. As much of the furniture as could be secured was thrown out into the street, when there arose wild shriek from woman's lips, "Save, oh save my motherl"

 The crowd gazed upon each other, ir- resolute how to act. It seemed certain death to enter that burning, roaring dwelling.

 sSave, oh save my motherl P again rang out on the midnight air, and though strong and daring men were laboring to quell the confiagration, yet none started in response to the wild and imploring appeal. Suddenly Bramwell, !, arrayed in his party costume, with lav- ender kid gloves still upon his hands thrust the crowd aside and sprang into the doorway, amid falling timber and the hot, scorching fire. A wild cheer arose from the crowd as Bramwen dis appeared. .,

 "He'n never be seen alive again, :" growled an old fireman. ''No man can live a minute in that furnace"

 But the fellow made mistake: he had scarcely finished his remarks when Bramwell was seen staggering under 8 weight he carried wrapped up in blan- ket. A moment more he gained the street, staggered and fell; but he had saved the mother of Amy Bray.

 He never heard the shouts of applause that went up from the throats of the multitude, and was unconscious when his friends called him by name. Fear fully and awfully burned he lay upon the ground in state of insensibility. When he returned to consciousness he was in his own home, a badly disfigured man, and so dangerously injured that it was supposed he could not live very long. If any one had seen the gay and handsome John Bramwell, who had danced so merrily the night before, had looked upon that swollen, distorted and charred face, they would scarcely have recognized the man who was so much admired.

 "And oh! Miss Marley" exclaimed Amy Bray, warming up with enthu- siasm, as she spoke, "to see that brave Mir. Bramwell, all dressed in his party attire, dash into our burning house when the old firemen refused to stir, was something truly heroic."

 Mary Marley's face grew white as she listened, and when she heard that Bramwen was sadly disfigured. a strange smile, that caused even her mother to regard her with amazement, lit up Mary Marley's face: She had not believed him capable of such deed, and quick as lightning her conscience smote her for having misjudged him. There is nothing so sweet as the com- passion of woman, though exercised to- ward rejected or even faithless lover.

 Many months John Bramwell laid upon his lonely and .desolate sick bed, and during this time he had received many kind messages from Mary, and almost daily visits from her mother. Mary would fain have accompanied her mother to the sufferers bedside, but John forbade it, thinking she would be | shocked at his altered appearance.

 When Bramwel went forth in the world again, the first visit he made was to Mrs. Marley. Since his accident very few had been admitted to his presence. He had natural repugnance to meeting them until it could not be avoided. for he could not bear that they should see how fearfully he was changed.

 His beautiful features were scarcely recognizable for the deep scars and seams left on his face, and his left an- kle having been severely injured, de- stroyed his elastic gait and gave him an unsteady limp. As he sat in Mrs. Mar courage to meet his friends who were coming to welcome him. As he caught glimpse of himself in the mirror, he could not repress sigh. How often be- fore had he sat in that same seat and had seen himself reflected in the glass and so different. Poor Bramwell, it was enough to make him sigh.

 But presently there came a rustic of silk upon the stairs, and moment more Mary and her mother entered. A heightened hue was in Mary's cheeks as she advanced straight toward Bram- we'll with both her hands extended. There was strange light, too, in her eyes, as she shook his hand and told him that she was glad to see him again.

 "Yes, we are glad," exclaimed Mrs Marley; ''this is one of the happiest days we have known for long time.'' They would not hear of Bramwell mak ing fashionable call, he must stay an6