Year: 1872

and cheeflng tor hlm when he spoke.


Now these were the two principal
competitors for Alice Shirley's hand.
II so happened that each had confided
to Colonel Shirley about the same
time his intention to appeal to Alice
herself on the subject, aud had received
from the Colonel and his wife the as.
surance that wherever Alice's choice
pointed their approval would follow.
But the hopes OF the Shirleys, hus-
band and wife, were with Wilfred
Euston, and he knew it was so.


One morning, just at this time,
Alice went into town in the carriage
TO get some music. As she was en-
tering the shop in Regent street,
man who was lounging along the
pavement saw her, and apparently was
very much struck by her appear.
ance. He came to a full stop, stared
al her, gazed into the window, and
exclaimed, "By Jovem and followed
her into the shop. She was turning
over some music. He, too. asked for
some piece of music or other, and he
glanced curiously and closely at Alice.
She could not get what sho wanted,
and the clerk offered to send il To he r
address next day. But she said she
would be coming into town herself
that day and would call for il. Then
she wen. away, and the man contrived
to get into conversation with the clerk
and to learn her name. He seemed a
little puzzled when he heard that her
name was Miss Shirley.


He was tall man, rather past mid
die age. He probably had been hand
some and dashing once; but now his
face was flushed aud bloated, there
were deep wrinkles under his eyes,
and his whole makeup suggested bill
liards aud brandy. That he was or
had been in the army was evident to
the most casual observation. lie
wore heavy moustache, waxcd and
dyed to conceal its grayness, aud he
was altogether an unpleasant and dis
reputable looking parsonage.


Next day he was pacing Regent
street an hour before the time at
which he had seen Miss Shirley. lie
hung closely aronnd the music shop.
At last her carriage came; she got
out, went into the shop and came
| forth again.


! Then he approached her, standing
between her and the carriage door
He took of his hat. and addressed her
very tremendously. At first she
took him for bcgger of a new kind,
got up TO initiate broken down
gentleman. lie said something, how.
ever. which made her start and color
and looked indignant. Then he spoke
again, and she listened. The confer
euce lasted but few moments. He
then gave her n card with an address
written on il. She got into her car
riage, rejecting angrily his profIered
arm; and she flung herself back and
b. her face, as If the light were hate
I'll TO her. When she reached home
and got out she was pale. but looked
firm. She seemed TO have grown
older. Such n change appeared to
have come over her as | always fancy
must have come on juliet from the
moment when the nurse, IN all SINGER
ity, advised her TO forget Romeo and
marry Paris, and the girl knew that
| henceforward she must take counsel
with herself alone.


That evening she had long con-
ference with Mrs. Shirley first, then
with her and her husband together
The man who accosted her in the
street had told her something of her
mothers story-nobody could know
the worst better than he-he refused
to say whether she was alive or dead,
except on conditions; and he left his
address, in order that acceptance or
refusal might be notified To him.


In fact he wanted TO extort money,
under pain of having shameful scan
dal made public if the family should
refuse his terms.


All three, Alice, the Colonel and
Mrs. Shirley, were of one mind in re-
solving to make no conditions, and to
take no further notice of the scoun-
drei. Colonel Shirley was already
satisfied that Alice's mother was
dead; and he was convinced that, for
her own sake and that of her married
lifes Alice must take a resoiute stand
in the beginning, and defy exposure
He was going on to hint that, in the
event of any suitor proposing for her,
the truth had better all be told, when
Mrs. Shirley quietly interrupted, and
said:


II think, dear, we may safely leave
Alice to take care of her own course
in that"


Alice gave her a look of fearful
| 10 nd hn IL
embraced and kissed by both, did her
best to look reassured and happy.


Colonel Shirley resolved to walk
Regent street a good deal for a few
days, and look out for the parsonage
Alice had described. He thought he
should know him by her. description,
and that few words of conversation
4 would enable him to decide whether
to treat with him by horse whip or
through the medium of the police
If the man should prove mere pro-
fessional extorter of money, then, OF
course the police IF he retained any
pretence whatever to the condition
of gentleman, why, the horse-whip
would be the proper mode of remon,
STRANGE.


! A day or two brought visit from
the Honorable Wilfid Euston, for q
purpose which he had already notified
to Colonel Shirley, and for which
therefore, Alice was prepared.
, The Honorable Wilfrid approached
his proposal somewhat diffidently and
! awkwardly as most young Engllshmen
, however aristocratic their breeding