Year: 1879

After all our troubles, it remained


profound mystery"


Yes, impenetrable And SO twill eve


be-"


Those few words caught my attentio


as was walking quickly by the speaker


who at that moment uttered them.


merely saw two dark-robed females, an


mould have passed them by unnoticeC


had it not been for their solemn word


and tones.


1t was growing late, and the night al


becoming chilly, SO L withdrew to on


side of the pavement and there arranged


my shawl to fold more closely around IN,


throat. While SO engaged, the speaker


passed me, as guessed they would.
| They were now silent, but from tn,
light of street-lamp I obtained a goot
view Of their general appearance theil
head-gear-close-fitting bonnets and blact
wells folded back-took the form of 8
monk k'sscowl, and as they fitted by with
| noiseless steps, one might have imagined
them two members of the Spanish In.
QUESTION, about to attend the auto de fe t6
some unfortunate victim doomed by that
once dreadful tribunal.


The features of both were stern and for
bidding, but in one they resembled the
cleaning eyes and sharply-pointed beak
OF some ferocious bird of prey swoopine
down upon its quarry and if that woman
cannot fathom the deepest mystery, nc
one ever will.


It's very well for them-they can dis.
cuss the subject in all its phases but how
am to exist in this state of fmental dark
ness, haunted by that never-to-be reveal
ed tale? l see no course before me but
to plunge into some other obscurity but,
T \ H.
actual life, preferring, to use nautical
phrase, all fair and above board" Now.
in novel, it's delightful to be kept on
the qui vive, wondering how it will all end,
and what the fate of that young and love-
ly heroine, surrounded by implacable
foes, who, unbeknownst to the world, is
nobodys daughter, and somebody's
wife.


But why people should wrap themselves
in little mysteries is to me an enigma. l
once lived in the same house with two
ladies who were seldom visible to stran-
ger. ooh! please say we are not at
home" as they would hurriedly whisper,
if the door.bell rang. And there they
were peeping from behind the lace cur
tains, and listening to the cross-question-
ing that followed the denial. If either
of them had on a new dress, sacque or
shawl, and no one could ascertain where
the article had been purchased-whilst
l was SO simple minded as to rush into
their presence with love of pattern"
or displaying some wonderful bargain in
dry goods.


Another individual 1 knew who even
in his boyhood was mysterious. He
would bring in small. parcels, and quickly
place them under lock and key, looking
like any murderer, endeavoring to hide
the traces of his crime. He would destroy
every letter and scrap of paper, and, at
length, ended his dark career by going
abroad, changing his name, mysterious
to the last.


And yet we are not compelled to "wear
our heart upon our sleeve for davis to
pick at" though that class of people are
far the most amiable; but they do not
go through lifeiso easily as the inscrutable
being shrouded in mystery. For, alas
are there not DAVIS in human form, who
take advantage of candor, and simplicity,
and the lack of worldly wisdom


For my part, were / to put on the mys-
terious, l should feel like the Man in the
Iron Mask, or the Wandering Jew, or
some other personage-a link between
and historical-and thus lose
my own identity, irrevocably.


Secrecy and mystery cause a baneful
atmosphere. Open, then, wide the
let heavens free air.and:glori-
ous sunshine wander through, and Danish
every dark nook and Granny from our
homes and from our lives.