Year: 1877

which the doctor and 1 passed all by
| ourselves but it passed at last, and as
| my two daughters burst into my room,
with rosy cheeks and eyes aglow with
happiness, felt that was blessed in
deed in their dear presence.


Weeks passed, filed full of Joy for the
two bright girls, who walked and rode
daily with the doctor; and he seemed
bent on making their lives one round of
pleasure, and to have almost completely
forgotten me-so stately and coldly
would he bid me good day" when we
CHANGED to meet, which was but seldom
nowadays, for I purposely kept myself
apart from them who could find no
amusement in poor, sad me.


And oh I had made a discovery
which had threatened to kill me with hu-
initiation and shame. [ had recognized
the tugging unhappiness at my heart,
the spasm OF jealousy that crept over me
each time he smiled upon my children.
[ loved the man whom I had wished to
become my son, and to whom already
my frst-born, my May, mad given her
heart, not without the asking, for he
said to her, one evening under the moon
light: "Little May, hope some day to
have the right to love and protect you
always"


loved him; but no one but God knew
how well, and would crush it out from
my heart. 1 only wanted little time to
outgrOw my shame, and then [ could be
the true mother again. Icould give him
to my child willingly when I knew that
he had won nay heart with honest worth.


One evening as I sat, long after mid
night, musing, lonely and sad in my lit
tie room, I heard the rustling Of soft
garments near my door, and, upon listen
ing closer, was sure [ could hear q sob
low and deep. Isprrpg to the door, and
found my daughter Katie kneeling upon
the threshold, pale and fearful.


Il feared you were sleeping, man.
ma, she said, "but [ so long to tell
you something which lies heavily Oh my
heart"


led her in and held her close to my
heart, while sobbingly she told me how
she had learned to love DR.. Grahame;
how at first he had seemed to return all
and more than she gave him; how he had
spoken words which gave her heart hope
that she did not love in vain; and now
she feared that she had given her heart
in return for nothing. My heart stood
still while I asked her to tell me what
were his last words.


Only these, mamma: Little Katie,
1 hope some time to have the right to
love and protect you always ="


Merciful heavens the same words by
which he had caught the artless heart of
my May!


This was Infamous, and the memory of
my own foolish love rose before my eyes,
my face crimsoned with shame, and grief
kept me silent. I pressed my child to
my heart closer and vowed to be re-
venged on the man who had brought this
misery upon us.


No sleep visited my wretched pillow
that night, and, when daylight finally
appeared, 1 was nearly wild with the
fever of anxiety which had complete
mastery of my soul.


How could I tell this man he must
leave us? How could I let my little
May know that she had been duped by
the same winsome subtleties which had
deceived her sister? Yet it must be
done; this monster must not sleep an
other night in the house he had defled.
1t must be done, and must do it.


The day was long in passing, but at
last evening came, and the hour which
always brought him from his days labor,
sometimes weary and old-looking, but
always kind and gentle-the gentleness
of the willy fox, I thought, now that I
knew his baseness.


heard him open the little gate, and
come up the walk, the steps, and into
| the house. [ met him at the parlo,
door, and, breathless with agitation,
/ bade him enter.


'Dr. Grahame," whispered, for ]
had no voice to speak aloud, ''we must
part. 1 am lonely, unprotected woman.
Leave me and mine, and my house,
implore you p


He turned deadly pale, and, catching
my hand in both his, exclaimed, while
he treinbled in every limb:


Not till you tell me you will not
give me the right to protect you always.


Great heavens those words again
and to ne Was the man mad? I triet
to snatch my hands from his, but ht
held me fast, while he called aloud
''Katie May! come, come p Ant
when they flew to my side in alarm h,
cried, ''Oh, Katie ! oh, May! help m'
to persuade the sweet mother to give mt
the right to protect you all forever. Yol
each gave me your promise long ago
love her. 1 want her for my wife
Repeat your dear consents, my daugh
ters -


And that was what he meant, after all
and it was me he loved, in spite of age
and the sweet girls who were each oil
enough to be his wife


Thank heaven, 1 held each of thei
secrets alone, and 1 had their consent
SO gave him mine.


FIGHTING GR4SSHOPPERS.


In Cache valley, Utah, they have