Year: 1874

agitated, she stood in silence there
one white and slender band resting,
as if for support, on the back Of a
velvet chair the other-on which
still shone the plain gold ring and
diamond guard he had given her
twelve years before-playcd ner~
yously with a slender golden chain
that enoircled her lovely neck
She was ,'by many years, his junior.
Tall, flrely and fully formed, with
sloping shoulders, a slender waist, u
rounded throat, and proudly set
head, she seemed indeed a fitting
mate for him, in al! the majestic
dignity of his strong matured man>
hood. Her hair was brown, like
his, but Of a darker shade. Her
forehead was broad and massive );
the outline Of her face was gently
and softly rounded the dark gray
eyes were full of fire and light the
cheeks and lips were touched with
a rosy bloom. Those rosy lips
closed almost as firmly as his own,
and the chin, rounded, yet slightly
prominent, gave look of unusual
determination to the otherwise
youthful and sunny face.


Dressed richly, yet plainly, in
black velvet, that fell about her
Juno~like form in graceful, clinging
folds, and wearing tiny diamond but
tons like restless sparks of fire amid
the costly lace at her wrists and
throat-with no other ornament
than the slender golden chain half
hidden in the velvet vest, and the
marriage ring and guard upon her
small white hand-there stood his
wife.


His wife? Oh, no. The harsh
decree of the law had come between
them, and snatched away for ever
all the dear and innocent delights
that once were his


His wife would have met him, af-
ter this long and terrible separa-
ton, a kiss of forgiveness, and with
tears Of joy!


But this stately and beautiful
lady was Mrs. Jernyngham' now,
for him us for all others. He had
no right to take her hand, or clasp
her in his arms. He must still the
beating of his aching, agonized
heart, and address her as ho might
address tie yeriest stranger Of her
sex.


1t was terrible effort. But he
made it brayely; and succeeded in
it far better than he had hoped.


She looked up, with q start Of
surprise, as his cold and measured
tones fell On her ear. She turned
deadly pale as she met his eyes;
and then the color rushed back to
her face IN an overwhelming tide of
crimson. She took the chair he
brought her, without a word, and
leaned her head upon her hand for
a few moments.


Presently she looked up. Her
eyes avoided his. But her man.
ner was perfectly quiet now, and her
face was calm, though pale.


We will 60 on now with our
business, if you please, sir, she
said, in voice as measured as his
own had been.


He bowed low, and drew chair
near the table where she was seated.
Spreading two formidable looking
documents out on the table before
her, he began explaining their ma
ture and contents as calmly as if
he had been some smoke-dried law
yer, and she bis client only.


She listened h silence.


You fully understand the nature
Of this deed-Mrs.-Madam ? he
said, when he had concluded.


L do


Are you satisfied with the pro-
vision herein made for your future? ?
Can anything more bo done? Can
[ be


His voice faltered a little, and
broke. Her hand, lying on the
edge Of the legal instrument, trem~
bled slightly.


I am perfectly satisfied, sir, she
answered atsiast.


FThen win you have the good
ness to sign your name within that
blank ?


A pretty, fanciful inkstand Of
malachite and ormolu stood on a
marble slab at the further end of
the room,


He rose to bring it. Her dark
gray eyes followed him---,was it with
a look of yearning love? If so, he
knew it not


returning, he placed the open
parchment sheet before her, and
pointed to the blank.


She took up the pen.


what name?' she said in low
voice, and again that crimson tide
surged up over cheek and neck and
brow.


'Your-your own, Madam = he
answered, coloring painfully, in his
turn.


'Alexia Jernyngham.


Sne wrote it calmly, in full,
free, flowing hand. And he looked
on the while, thinking of other days
when, in their own happy home,
he had often watched her proudly
and fondly, as she signed another
name.


Throwing down the pen as the
last letter was formed. she rose from