Year: 1878

the best thing you can do. what mas De-
come of Maurice Cleveland?"


II suppose be is at home" said Mary.


Hasn't he committed suicide, or anything
of that sort YETI He'll get nice scolding
from the Colonel. I told him all about bis
behavior"


"You did," exclaimed Mary, in horri6ed
tone.


"Of course; wasn't it proper for him to
know ?" You'd have had to tell him, you
know and only saved you the trouble"


"And now they will quarrel, perhaps; and
Colonel Dacre will be miserable. I wish you
had said nothing, Adelia Besides, how did
you knowf"


Adelia laughed. "Do you take me for a
sim peton, my dear! Remember, I've known
Maurice long time; and it didn't take me
very long to find out what game he was play
ing. Don't worry yourself about him. He
deserves all that he will get, and more too.
Well, have told you enough news now for
one day, and I suppose 1 had better 60 now,
and give you chance to get over your ex-
citement little. may not see you again.
Probably, shall have to return tomorrow,
and then I shall keep quiet for while. And
you-I shall hear of you next at Mosslands, l
suppose.


Mary'sthoughts were in a whirl. She scarce
" needed Adelias parting words. When the
latter had taken leave, she went to her room,
and sat there for an hour, trying to plan some.
thing to steady her nerves, so as to be able to
reflect calmly; to decide on what it was best
for her to do. Mrs. Stanley came in at last,
to ask her some question about certain kind
of nourishment she was preparing. She saw,
at once, that something had happened, and
Mary, on being asked, was quite ready to tell
her all.


my dear girl, how glad I ought to be !!
And I am glad, for your sake, though it is q
great blow to me to find that will have to
give you up" said Mrs. Stanley, affectionate-
ly kissing her. ~ began to think you were
my own daughter, almost. And you are so
clever and so helpful, you are quite like my
right hand. But, of course, you won't take
any steps just yet. You will wait to hear
from him first"


II wanted you to tell me what to do" said
Mary.


"Why, remain quietly here, Of course. He
will send or write at once, when he finds out
where you are. Dear, dear, this IS news, in.
deed know how happy you must feel.
Look here, my child, want you to taste this
before add any more pepper or salt. It's
for young Jenkins, and l don't believe it ought
to be too highly seasoned ; do you'"


Mary's thoughts we're far enough just then
from young Jenkins and bis broth. But she
tasted the contents of the silver porringer-a
vessel With which Mrs. Stanley continually
went armed-with very good grace, and gave
her opinion in regard to the seasoning as we'll
as she could. Mrs. Stanley was in a great
hurry lust then, for she had left another deli
cate mess on the stove in critical state, and
it was proof of the interest she felt in Mary
and her news, that she had paused so long in
her operations to discuss the subject which the
latter had at heart So she kissed her again,
murmured something in the same breath
about blanc mango, and an unfailing blessing
on all those who wait patiently and do their
duty we'll, and then hastened off with her little
porringer to return to the duties of the cuisine.


Mary's heart was brimming over. The
more she pondered on the tidngs she had
heard, the more wonderful they seemed-too
wonderful, almost, to realize. Yet she could
not reasonably doubt that they were true,
coming from 80 direct source. She was far
too agitated to give her mind to any of her
accustomed duties, and spent the day in a
kind of dreamy abstraction, happy yet rest
less, full of eager yearnings, yet beyond meas
ure thankful for the blessing of the knowl-
edge that had come to her. 1t was perhaps
fortunate thing for her that she was forced,
late in the evening, to give her attention to
poor, suffering, wounded man, just brought
from one of the hospitals to be placed under
Mrs. Stanleys care, and who, coming at
moment when the latter was out, having been
obliged to 20 on some errand in the neighbor-
hood, fell, for the time, under her supervision,
and could not but enlist her sympathy and
compassion. She had to see that the right
bed was prepared for him, that be had every
thing placed near him that he would need, to
give him some cooling drink, and afterward
bathe his feverish head, aching and distract
ed from the motion of the hospital ambulance.
And in performing these duties, she was grad
ually relieved from the nervous pressure on
her own heart and brain, which had made
her happiness almost painful to her.


Just minute after Mrs. Stanley had come
in and relieved her from her post, there came
ring at the bell. 1t was near bedtime,
and she hoped that it might not be another
new patient, arriving at 80 late an hour.
Presently, Dolly came up with the tidings that
"semebody" was in the parlor. II told Mis-
Stanley, ma'am, and she asked me to let you
know, cause she's busy with the sick gentle
man. She thinks it is message from the
dispensary."


"Very we'll, I'll attend to it" said Mary.
She went rather slowly down to the parlor,
which was but dimly lighted with candle,
which Dolly had placed in a hurry on table
lust inside the door. A weary looking, gaunt
figure rose up from sofa opposite. 1t was
no wonder that at the first she did not recog-
nize its identity. But it needed only a step
forward, single word in the well.known
| voice to awaken her to sense Of the truth