Year: 1878

One thing was certain-radical measures must be taken to put a gulf between her and Bob White that could not be readily bridged over. The whole White family were as proud as Lucifer and knew 1 should have very lit- tie trouble in convincing them that the old in timacy had better be broken off. My new house on the Boulevard began to take noble di- mensions, and had already cost me mint of money Its marble halls were spacious enough to chill me to the bone, and there was quite melancholy expanse of mud and masonry in it's vicinity.

 It rather surprised me, when put our snug little place in the hands of the agent, that my wife was so willing to part with the furniture too. thought a few of the familiar old time servers might be used to advantage somewhere in the new house, and confess to a feeling of keen disappointment when she decided that ev cry thing must go I've don't want to set up second hand junk-shOp on the Boulevard" said Sarah and 1 was ashamed to foster these old-fashioned sentiments, till one morning l found Rosalie crying over my old armchair in the sitting room. It was bungling old trap, covered with queer pattern of chintz, where the tail of each biryl-of- paradise had gradually faded with many washing But the bulgy back seemed to have fitted itself to my weary spine, and the well-worn arms of the chair were always cordially held out to me. "I'm glad you've got tear or two to spare, Rosy" I said, ''at parting with old friends. I'll never get another so lenient with my rickety benes."

 "Tn never part with it, father" said Rosy. And didn't care to tell her of her mothers decree.

 In the mean time, however 1 had broken the intelligence to poor Bob, as kindly as could, that it would be better to cease his wis it's at the house. think, as we'll as l remem- Der, that did put the blame upon my wife. was glad to see that he took my communca- ton in 8 manly, practical way, and bore up under it wonderfully It troubled me that Rosalie seemed to take the matter so much to l heart Young Greens turnout was seen quite | frequently at our door that winter, and was | tired of my wife's apologies about the house and it's appurtenances. Every day that drew me nearer to the draughty chaos on the Boule- l yard lent a warmer charm to the snug little home was leaving, and found l was not alone in my appreciation. No sooner had it become known that my little place was in the market than offers began to pour in from diff ferent quarters. All these offers were referred | to the agent, who told me one morning as he | was passing that the house had been rented and l the furniture sold some time since to young married couple

 ''Here's another pair in search of a nuptal nest" said, as 1 propped up an ingeniously carved bit: of cigar box on the .maple-tree be- meath my window. 1 felt little blue as l went in to breakfast, and had scarcely broken my egg when the bell rang, and found Black at the door. His face was ashy pale, and his hand trembled upon his gold-headed cane. 1 ''No more bad news ?" 1 stammered out, for some speculations of ours had turned out very disastroisly of late.

 ''Tm ruined man" said Black, sinking into a chair by the parlor door.

 Big beads of terror started to my own fore head.

 ''Green has disappeared, the scoundrel, |" said Black, land of course shall be accused of complcity with the dcfaulter."

 Naturally" said, dryly, for was too wretched myselfto have any sympathy to spare. ued Black. ''I shall have to fall back upon what little money remains to my wife, and I've come around here at her suggestion to hire this little place of yours for the coming year"

 'tMy good gracious ?" said voice behind us and there stood Sally, as red as the feathers r the duster she held in her hand.

 "Yes, Mrs. Brown" said Black, "wc'vc al. ways been fond of this little place, and really believe we shall be as happy here int our adycr sity as you will be in your fine new house f'

 'Perdtion seize my fine new house, and ev- cry one that has led me into this muddlc :" cried, beside myself with fright and veXation. ''You know we'll that sha'n't have the money now to go on with it. It will be all can do to keep from bankruptcy myself"

 God forbid that 1 should refuse to aid my husband in this extremity" said Sally, with great nobility of accent and manner. We'll make the sacrifice ourselves, Joe; we'll keep our own little place we'll keep our own little place; we'll go on in the old way, dear. We'll stay here ourselves, Joe"

 'Pm obliged to you for your consideration, madam" replied; ''but when the horse is gone, it's too late to shut the stable door. The house is let, and the furniture is sold."

 My furniture sold! shricked Sally. "Oh oh! Oh l.! m.y furniture, my dear old furniture, taken from me Why, they can't do it they shan't It's mine. It ain't yours. They cant take my things for your debts"

 Just wait," said I, twill you, till you're called upon to pay my debts? You gave orders for the furniture to be sold and the house to bC rented yourself The agent told me this morn ing that young married couple had taken them. We'll have to go to town and take ' furnished flat"

 "A furnished flat" echoed my wife, sinking into chair, and covering her face with he apron ia furnished flat!" And although can safely swear she had time and again hclC this way of living to be a domestic felicity, there was an unspeakable misery in her view of it now 'I wish I was dead :" she said 'Id rather go to my grave than to furnished flat-just in the lovely spring-time, when th' Brahmas are beginning to set, and the straw berry bed is one mass of bloom. Oh, my poo child 7" she cried, to Rosalie, who had run il and thrown herself before her mother, ''your Mr Green has turned out to be a nasty defaulter A young married couple have robbed. us o house and home and your father has the cru city to talk to me of furnished flat"

 ''He isn't ney Mir. Green" Rosalie broke in 'nor ever was, and the married couple won rob you of anything but-but--a--a bad undu tiful daughter, You shall stay here mothei dear, and-and Bo-Bob and will go to the city and take the furnished flat"

 "Am I to understand" '" said l, advancing to this dear blushIng, weeping child, and feeling a singular warmth and cheer creep about my | fainting heart-"am to believe that you and Bob are the married couple in queston y'

 Rosalie hung her sweet head, and my wife cried out to me, with the coolest assurance, that she told me how it would be all along, and that all further opposition on my part woult be useless.

 ''You'd better go to the train, Joe" she said ''poor old Black has been gone this ten min utes. And bring home some garden seeds wiil you and bring Bob to supper. We'll all liv, here together. And please God my darling, she said, flinging her arms about our little daughter, "we'll all be happy yet {"