Year: 1866

came to the conclusion that it was merely
woman's whim and dismissed it from his
thoughts, lingering for half an hour longer
in the parlor ere he took his departure.


Meanwhile Mrs Tilbury, had reached
home, and fastened up to her room. Had
her husband been there, she would have
humbled herself atonce, thrown herself upon
his mercy and acknowledged her fault; but
the room was silent and the gas burned dim
ly. She could hear the heavy throbbing of
her own heart with painful distinctness as
she restlessly paced back and forth What
had become of Charles? Why had he not
returned? She expected to find him there,
and furiously angry, but now new and ter
rible fear arose-a fear that he had fingered
to demand satisfaction of her cowardly in
suffer- and that something dreadful would
arise out of it. There was no one whom she
could send and if there had been how could
she give directions by which her husband
could be found? 1t was a trying hour
Truly was she now beginning to taste the
bitter cup of repentance.


Back and forth she paced with hands clasp
ed together in speechless anguish The tiara
that bound her night-black hair fell off and
Law in glittering heap at her feet, but she
did not heed it. Jewels flashed from her
arms and bosom-glowed in her Dress spark
led on her fingers, but their powerful beauty
had no charm now to still the anguish of her
heart A picture of splendid misery she
swept up and down the long room, scorning
the peerless beauty that had given her pride
out of which pride had sprung the evils
which brought her to this strait.


"Oh, my God" she prayed fervently,
''save me the consequences of my folly.


''Save my husband from harm and from
rashness The fault is all mine. Let the
punishment come upon me, but not through
him, my husband Oh, Charles! Charles!'


She fell upon her knees beside a chair,
burying her face in the cushion, smothering
the sobs that rose wildly in her throat and
struggled for utterance.


Hours passed. The gray dawn was dis
pelling the darkness of night, when the
strained ear of the young wife caught the
sound of a cautious step ascending the stairs.
she sprang to her feet breathlessly and wait
ed his entrance. In a moment he came In,
his hands and linen covered with blood


Charles! Charles! oh, my God, haveyou
murdered him?'


The words rang in wall through the grand
room.


'No; you need not be alarmed madam.
| have only caned him as he deserved. l
had to wait long time before / could catch
him, but when | did so, gave him SOU
venir of this nights folly he shall never for
get So pitiful a poltroon / would never
stoop to fight. Gaming was all he was enti-
tied to at the hands of an honorable man. "


Helen's eyes flashed. Before he was
aware of her intention her arms were around
him, her kisses on his face.


''0h, Charles, my darling! thank you
am glad, glad All that feared was i'll to
you. If he had injured you should have
murdered him Oh, that he should dare to
to utter such words to me!
'Helen!'


| He held her from him sternly.
Il charge you as you value our future, to
tell ME truthfully if you did not know Gle
ment Hudson was to be at Mrs. Burton to-
night?'
mo; as I live. did not know he was in
America When did ever stoop TO false
hood that you should thus abjure me?'


Mr.. Tlbury took hasty turn through
! the room. He was much disturbed. Finally
he paused and looked at her.
| Helen, / cannot be otherwise than open
with you always. / have loved you so, | was
| jealous of everything. Do you think | did
not know that | wronged your feelings in
| keeping you from the world? But you are
so beautiful you cannot help exciting admi-
ration, and to see a set of contemplate pup
pies following You would make me wretched.
! Wiener you have mentioned balls, parties or
| operas, it has filed me with fear. Doubly
so has it been since you spoke of this one,
and | knew that he would be there. L
thought you knew it,sand my jealous heart
whispered that in this lay the cause of your
obstinate persistence, and may be pardoned
if X agonfzed me- Iresolved to follow and
see for myself Was what did see calcula-
ted to calm my fears-or what / heard him
utter to you soothing? Concealed, L watch
ed your returning consciousness, and saw
your manner of leaving him. That saved
my faith in you. By side door | reached
the street and sawyou leave. Then l watch
ed for him. and castigated HIM well for the
insult Oh, Helen, | ought to have killed
him. To think of the words he dared to
utter in your earl


Charles, forgive me! It was my own
wilfulness which broughtit upon me. did
not dream of harm or danger, and felt only
that you wronged me in your denial to crafty
what thought an innocent wish God only
knows what | suffered this night The les
son has been enough for life time, and out
of such folly can come no more like 1t.


She bowed her proud, beautiful head upon
his arm, and wept while he put his other arm
around her and pressed kiss upon her
cheek.


1t was not a lesson for her only. lie had
extracted one as much needed, and in after
time was less selfish, and more careful of her
wishes. Heknew that he had not been blame
less, and in giving her the protection of his
presence, made his own happiness and hers,
by securing her from harm, and ministering
to innocent desires, which, however she sell
dom required indulging by going into gay
society.


-~>S~


A YOUNG fellow was taking a s,eigh-ride
with pretty girl, when he met Methodist
minister who was somewhat celebrated for
tying the matrimonial knot on short notice.
He stopped him and asked hurriedly


''Can you tie a knot for me p


Eyes, said brother B, when do
you want it done?'


"Well, right away, if it's lawful here in
the HIGHWAY 2''