Year: 1878

4
minded Shiel. In truth, Macs own APP
petite was little frustrated, and as the
night wore away he was heartily glad to
see the people trooping out to their car
riages. When all were gone, little up
stairs maid, who had been always civil
to poor Jenny, put little note into
Macs hand, saying that her mistress
told her not to give it to him till the fes-
tivity was over. Mac opened it with a
trembling hand, and read poor Jenny's
scrawl:


"I'm gone for good and all, dearie.
For long time I've seen that you and
my darling child were beyond me in
everything. I can never get up to you
80 please forgive me if stop by the way.
God bless and prosper you, is the prayer
of your faithful JENNY >,


Mac handed it over to Shiel, and
dropped into chair as if struck by an
unseen hand. The air was little heavy
with the breath of his artistic guests
who had just departed, and the scent of
the exotics sickened his nostrils the
big blaze of light grew dim about him,
and all he could see for that weary min
ute was the sweet face of young Eng
lish girl he had known and loved almost
beyond his strength long time ago.
Shiel had read the note for the sixth
time, his face growing more and more
distracted and imbecile, and had begun
to read it over again, when Mac cried
out in broken voice, "Could any vii
lain be at the bottom of this, Shiel p
could any one have tampered with her
loyalty"


"Never II cried Shiel, Indignantly.
"Tll answer that with my life. 1
know how foolishly faithful she was
never an eye or an ear for anybody else.
I know that by experience. Many's the
time I've tried to console her myself for
your indifference.


"My what ?" roared poor Mac.


"Your indifference and neglect, sir I"
cried Shiel, now aroused to the pitch
of recklessness. "She was pearl of
purity and sweet simplicity, but she was
cast before swine, sir"


"Shiel, you are always more or less
of fool" groaned Mac" "and now
you're clean daft" But he listened to
Shiel as he went on to give him piece
of his mind, and took heart as he gath
cred in the evidences of Jenny's wound
ed love. "She'n be back before twenty
four hours" said Mac, "and we'll all be
the happier for this little bout"


But twenty-four hours went by, and
forty eight ; whole week passed away,
and no Jenny came to lift the weight
from Macs heart. Shiel advised him to
secretly consult the police, at which Mac
first revolted, then succumbed but
with no success. A fortnight went by,
and even Shiel forgave very fault of
Macs, so deep and sincere were his sor-
row and penitence. The musical alb
straction of Miss Jean served in meas
ure to mitigate her grief, and an eminent
professor had offered her the warmest
sympathy and consolation man can
offer but poor Mac hated the thought
or sound of music now, and would have
no commiseration save that of Shiel,
which, indeed, partook of so unwearied
nature that Mac clung to it as q drown
ing man will to straw.


At the end of the month Shiel de-
clared that journalism was the only
thing left to them. He had held it, he
pUlIiS uo a UtCI ftCCI uOU WdubluR
to set the tongues of the world that
Jenny SO hated wagging in her behalf /;
but her cruel obstinacy had left them no
alternative.


"I see," said Mac-"the personal
column in the Herald. Make it as
agonizing as you can, Shiel. God
knows it can't hold misery enough.
Tell her to come back and rule in every
thing-manage the money and the busi-
ness, smash the piano, and forbid jeans
marriage to the professor; and tell her,
Shiel, the house is 'cauld without ber,
and my heart wearies sair.'" And here
the tears rolled out of his eyes, and a
lump in his throat stopped his speech.


Nonsense, man" said Shiel. "Call
you that journalism? Listen here, sir,
to the cunning touch of genius, the lever
that moves the world" And he read
forth to the desponding partner a little
paragraph from prominent newspaper,
stating the deep regret with which they
learned that the recent domestic troubles
of the eminent musical critic Mr.. Mac
Neil had not only prostrated him upon
bed of illness, where he was now lying
in critical condition, but that his 5usi-
ness affairs had become hopelessly
entangled, and there was a probability
of an early sale Of his household effects
for the benefit of his creditors. Among
these articles were some musical curl
osities, information of which could be
obtained of Mr.. Shiel, Printing house
Square, No. blank.


"And now must 60 to No. blank at
once, said Shiel; "for, if I'm not mis-
taken, this will fetch her within the
hour"


Shiel had no sooner got seated at his
desk than there was timid knock at the
door that sent his heart humping in
unison. Upon the threshold he present
ly saw familiar little figure, and heard
broken voice which the thickness of
no veil could disguise. She began to
inquire about the musical curiosities.
while Shiel looked at her eagerly. He
said not word, but there was some
thing in his face 80 sad and yearning
that Jenny began to sob.


"Is he so very sick, Shiel dear ?" she
cried. ooh, take me to him, wicked
woman that 1 am 1 have killed. have
killed him for whom would lay down
my lifel"'


She threw back her veil and put out
both her little hands, and Shiel, on the
spur of the moment, caught her in his
arms and held her to his heart, excusing
the warmth of this embrace by the plea
that he thought she was fainting.


They found Mac walking about the
room, somewhat worn and thin, to be
sure, and big, greedy, cavernous hollows
of grief in his face; but as he took Jenny
in his arms, these hollows filed up with
Joy, and his whole being seemed to dilate
with strength and gladness.