Year: 1877

His two Loves.


Two, and Montague Garthorn loved
them both. Ii does not seem possible,
nevertheless 1t is true; and, stranger
still, they both loved him. He was not
worthy of half the good things the
Fates showered on him with such Law
ish hands; bat who in this wide world
ever get their deserts. 1t is a thoroughly
false theory that virtue brings its own
reward; long ago it might, but now il
certainly does not, or Opal Garthorn' s
life would have been happier. As long
as Opal could remember she had wor-
shipped her cousin Montague. As a
child he was her hero, and as she grew
up her chief delight was to be noticed
BY him. When she ''came out" and
he seemed TO take pleasure in being
with her, her joy knew no bounds; and
at length, when he asked her 10 be his
wife, she could hardly realize that the
dream of her life had come to pass; and
he felt as if he could not do enough TO
show his love for the beautiful girl who
had promised to marry him.


Montague Garthorn was well of,
and his parents being both dead, he had
become spoiled child in all his rela-
tons households, and many Mistress
Garthorn had been anxious to catch
this excellent paTt for her daughter.
Great was the surprise OF the Garthorns
generally when it was known that he
intended TO make his distant cousin
Opal his wife.


Opal's love for him was so unseltish,
so wommanly (and how much deeper
is q woman's love than mans can pos
sibly be)! When i say she loved him
with her whole heart, better than her
life, my words seem cold and passion
less, and cannot convey the meaning OF
her devotedness.


When he asked her to marry Linn
soon she would not listen to him, but

because ''he might see some one he
liked better" and with whom he would
be more happy. Her delight consisted
in seeing him happy, so she said, and
so she meant, no doubt; but really she
felt such confidence liz his entire devo-
lion, and judged him so by herself, that
she never for moment realized the
idea of his loving any one but her. Mon
tague Garthorn considered that If he
understood one thing thoroughly. that
one thing was himself; so he was an
noyed at her doubling him even in this
loving way, and resolved TO prove that
no woman of lures and wiles could in
fuence him when he had the assurance
of5Opal's love.


Opal was standing at the drawing
room window, gazing into the twilight
for her lover, while her mother and
father chatted together. At last she
hears his footsteps on the stairs, and
they are together.


Opal, viii you 60 to the theatre to-
night? l have promised to meet Archer
there"


"Must you go, Montie?"


"Well, dear, l think | must; but
won't you Gomez"


Opal does not want TO go, and she
does not want him to go without her
but before she has time to make up her
mind what answer to give, her mother
settles that question by saying she
"eanuot allow Opal to go, as she is
tired with days shopping"


Montague remained few minutes
longer, then rose to take his leave.
Opal was dull, felt leaden weight at
her heart. What for? Surely not be-
cause her lover was going TO meet a
man at the theatre. Nevertheless she
could not throw the gloom off, and as
she bade him goodbye tears rose TO her
eyes and seemed 10 tremble in her
voice; so much so that even Monte, the
most unobservant ofmen. noticed them,
and was more affectionate in manner.


You are tired, Opal, my child, go to
bed, dear"


at is not that, Monte, but feel as
If was losing you; as if this was to be
our last goodbye"


"Nonsensei' and with another kiss
he was gone, while Opal gazed on him
for ihe last time-at least saw for the
last time the man who loved her as he
loved no other woman.


Mr.. Garthorn sauntered leisurely
along, intending TO take hansom down
70 the Strand, when he remembered
that as he was alone he might call for
Archer at his lodgings. Instead of TAX
ing a cab he resolved TO go by train to
Cover street, where his friend lived.
Ii Opal cnly knew what would come of
that little railroad journey no earthly
power would have prevented her going
with Monte to the theatre He was
thinking it was a bother TO 60 to the
play, as it was sure to be hot, and it
would have been much cooler in the
back drawing-room with Opal. Here
his thoughts were interrupted and the
carriage door was opened, and young
girl pushed in. A girl with magnetic
golden hair that seemed to make halo
around her head, and saucer blue eyes