Year: 1874

was when alone that he pondered MS position
most deeply. Then he constantly tormented
himself with the most puzzling and torturing |
questions Could it be possible to maintain
successfully such a terrible deception through |
long period? Some inadvertant expression
of his own or of Mrs. Podgcrs, some blundcr
of a servant, or, still more probable, the con-
versation of some unsuspicious visitor at the
house, was NOT one of these certain in the end
to betray the wicked impos;urc: But, even
though all should be successfully concealed
from Jennie, could he bear much longer the
reproachcs of an outraged conscience bacause
of this cruel deception of a sweet, trustful,
innocent girl? Had not Jennie been actually
present, and the expectant of round OF ten
der attentions it would have been different
He could have maintained such deception
by letter as he had first intended, and done
so with little or no remorsc. But her pres
ence made vast difference. 1t was con-
slant reproach to him; it loaded him with
consciousness of guilt that made his spirit
stagser.


Thus was he tortured and therefore even
the mighty joys of successful love were pow
erless TO bring peace to his bosom. Some
times in the silence and gloom Of the night,
when lie was without the soothing influence
of Jenncs presence that strengthened him
by day, lie was so goaded by his fears and re-
morse that lie would gasp in an intoxication
of agony and scarce be able to reprcss the
groans and shrieks that struggled for utter
ance Once after night of such suffering,
during which he had not been visited by a
moment of sleep, he arose with the determl-
nation to confer with Mrs. Podgers with
view to the adoption of some plan for unde-
ceiving Jennie with the least shock to her, and
If possible without the utter overthrow of his
hopes concerning her. An opportunity Of
fered in the course of the day for retiring to
the library on pretense of attending to some
= "nc"nrr;~" tho estate and Scrihh!e-
ton without ceremony announced his Gecis.
| sion. Mrs. Podgers listened with approba-
ton, for she had her share of the bitter fruits
of their harvest of deception


81 had come to the same conclusion my
SELF" she said, ''for can bear this misery
no longer. It's sad case, but candor is the
best remedy 1t IS not alone your hopes that
arc imperrilcd, but mine as well. must soon
pass away, and it is my dearest earthly wish
that you and Jennie may some day live here
together. 1t looks dark now, but light can
not come from conccalment. 1t may from
candor. Let me tell Jennie the whole story.
assure her of my earnest wishes, and though
you will not be wholly exhonorated, l think
that what she cannot acquit she will pardon q


Scribbleton eltthat this was the best course
and committed his fate to Mrs. Podgers' dis
cretion. The strong man succumbed to the
weak woman. Lords of Creation, we do this
sometimes, don't we? Warehouses though
we are, ready enough generally to paw in the
valley and rejoice in our strength, looking
with a patronizing pity upon the weak crca-
gaze admiringly upon these manifestations of
our vast powers, there come times to us when
our ha! la! among the trumpets is changed
to Il boo hoo. and we are only too ready to
shelter ourselves behind the feeble forms
which now command wonderful strength
and courage for the emergency to which We
yield. Let us not in our pride forget this,
aud let us be minded to thank God and be
grateful that he has provided us with help
so unobtrusive, and yet SO perfectly meet for
these extremities.


Jennie had followed Scribbleton with her
eyes as he went to the library, her glance tell
ing of love and happiness with an eloquence
to which the tongue is stranger. When he |
had disappeared, she went to the window,
cazed out for few moments, singing to her.
self the while a merry song in rare, sweet |
voice, and then turned to the table for book |
or paper.


II won't attempt book now" she said to
herself after thinking a moment; ''Tm too
happy to apply myself. I'll look for some
thing short and sweet in the papers, something
just long enough to occupy me till lie comes
back


AS she handles the papers over one by one
glancing at the headings of articles, her eye
was caught by the following words:


Cupid on the Rampage!


Secret Wedding in High Life!


AS marriage announcements have always
certain charm for young ladies, and as this
heading promised something of unusual inter-
est in that line, Jennie took the paper to the
window and sat down to read the article. But
ere she read far how quickly the glow of
plcasurable anticipation faded from her face.