Year: 1879

With an air of listless detection Kate
held out her hand and accepted the let
ter offered by her mother As she read
the lines color came back to her face,
and her eyes sparkled with aroused tenn
per. She crushed the paper in her grasp, |
and scornfully said:


"What does Dick Staunton mean by say |
ing that belong to him-that he Is COM
ing to claim his own? That he will toll
crate no interference on the part Of any
one, and If have INDUCED in any girl
ish fancies must put them aside and
prepare to welcome my true lord and
master when he comes TO take me to
himself? nerer bound myself to him
in any way, and WON'T ,con't be die
tated to by him in this manner"


Accustomed to her daughters mode of
expressing herself when greatly excited,
Mrs. Loser sank back on her seat and
TRANQUILITY replied:


at is natural to Dick to be masterful,
and he says no more than you bave
given him right to express. You ad-
init that you consented to wait for him,
and, to a man like him, that meant
everything that such promise can i'm
ply"


"But 1 never meant it. Oh, what
shall do? What shall do?"


II can easily tell you. Send Harry
Conrad away 1t once, and make himun-
derstapd that his dismissal is final.
Think of the magnificent future opening
before you, and prepare to receive with
cordial welcome the lover who comes to
shower his hardly-earned gold upon
YOU"


Poor Kate LETT her mothers presence
in tempest of feeling it would be im-
possible to portray. A firce battle was
raging within her, and she also trembled
before the dread that she would never be
permitted to reject the lover who came
with the power in his hand to release
those she tenderly loved from the hope
less dreariness of their present existence.


A young, bright face, with nobility Of
soul stamped upon every lineament,
arose b, fore her, and she covered her
face with her hands ard moaned in her
anguish:


"They will tear me from Harry-my
daring, and my pride they will preach
to me of my duty to them and to myself,
until wrong will seem right, and shall
become mere @puppet in their hands.
And he-he-that man of strong will, is
coming to compel me to fulfill contract
1 never meant to make. Oh, what shall
do! what will become of me !"


She had sat down on the upper step of
the winding stairs, and now rising abrup-
ty, she went into her own room and
| closed the door.


Shortly afterwards Mrs. Loser knocked
TREMENDOUSLY at her daughters door and
asked TO be admitted.


There was slight stir within, and a
falling voice replied


IL had rather not see any one just yet
mamma. Give me time to bathe my
e'es, and get calm, and will see and
talk with you. OF If you love me
leave me alone now!'


To- this passionate adjuration Mrs. Lose
replied:


81 must see you at once, Kate. Ihavt
something that is most important to say tc
you. Something that you ought to know
as it may help you to decision as tc
what is right for you to do"


After a slight delay the door was un-
locked, and Kate, with swollen eyes and
"a pathetic expression of helplesness upon
her face, looked with trembling dread
upon the mother who, she knew, had
come to throw some additional load up
on her young shoulders, heavy as was the
one she already had to bear.


The apartment of Kate was simply
but tastefuliy furnished. In it were
found the few books she claimed as heI
own, her guitar, her portfolios Of driet
plants, and many little nick-nacks suct
as yoliiig girls like to collect aroun(
them.


The walls were covered with penci
sketches. made by herself, fancifully
framed with autumn leaves. Among
them was found the shadowy outline Of
a young mau's bead so lightly drawr
that the fair al tist seemed afraid to make
it too distinct lest it might be recognized
A wreath of wild flowers hung over it,
and concealed the words family traced
beneath-"Ny IDEAL"


Tie head was certainly very noble
and handsome one, and Kate deserved
credit ii she had drawn 1t from her owl
conception of what is grand and true In
man.


Her mother glanced around as she
came in, unwilling to look straight at hel
daughter, and see in her face the sigrs Of
the bitter struggle she knew she had beer
pas ssing through. Her eyes fell on the
phantom head, and she said:


"This Is something new; have moi
seen IL before. Have you token to draw
ing ghosts, Kate for this seems nothing
more"


"That is the ghost of my happiness
mamma" said the girl, wsarily, "and il
will soon go to the grave that is being
dug for it,"


"What stuff! l see now that it is 8
highly idealized sketch Of Harry Con
RAIDS head, and you have placed it there
as shril e, l suppose, before which tt
offer your silly alteration. l do declare
Kate, that you are most absurd young
woman"


"Absurd as / may be, mamma, unit
to-day you seemed to sanction my attach
ment to Harry. It's cruel--cruel to ex
, pect me to tear my heat from him at
moments warning. know what yor
have come to say, but would rather no
f hear it. All the persuasions self-interesl
| may prompt you to utter will be power
less to change my feelings toward Mr.
Conrad"


"You dreadful girl is that the way
you brave me to my very face Yo,
cannot--you shall not-mary Harry
Conrad. Have not given you to under
stand that such union is out of ques-
ton ?-that it will bring destruction OF
all you are bound to care for In thi'
! wolldP"


= l~..A .H~A s4tl psf II