Year: 1872

whistling round the closely curtained
windows and double doors of Mr.. STAN
ley's stately mansion. 1t howled down
the chimney a S though maddened
by the warm fire below, before which
Mrs. Stanley calmly sat warming her
feet. 1t was fearful storm. The wind
was driving the snow in all directions,
but it was all unfelt by Mr.. and Mrs.
Stanley as they sat before the glowing
CRATE in their cozy parlor he in his dres-
sing gown and slippers, reading the eve
ming paper; she leaning back in her ca
sy chair, holding delicate piece of en-
broidery which was lying forgotten IN
her small white hands


'It's bitter cold night" said he,
tossing aside the paper


''Yes, it is cold and what storm,
said she, speaking in a dreamy way, which
plainly told that her thoughts were not
confined to the storm and as she added,
May the Lord have mercy upon the
poor" it was evident that her thoughts
were not entirely confined to their suf-
ferings


But as she sat looking into the blaz-
ing fire her thoughts had been wander
ing far away over the dreamy past, back
to the home of her childhood, and dwell
ling upon the many happy hours she had
spent there, playing with her little twin
sister Minnie. Mr.. Stanley, with yawn
has returned to his paper; and while she
is dreaming of the past we will take a
glance around the room and give tho't t
to their past lives. The apartment is
richly furnished costly pictures hang
suspended from the walls; an elegant
carpet is beneath their feet, and every
thing around the room is a display of
taste and wealth.


Lewis Stanley is wealthy lawyer,
about thirty years of age. Ten years
before he had won the heart and hand
of fair young lady by the name of Lin
ME Winslow, and transplanted her, like
some delicate flower, from her home to
become the light and joy of his. She
was an adopted daughter of Henry Wins
low. Her parents had been stricken
down by the hand of desease, and she
and her twin sister Minnie, at the age
of eleven years, were left almost alone
in the world. After her marriage with
Mr. Stanley they resided short time in
Boston, when sudden change in his
business called him to Lynn. After five
years residence there he, allured by a
more fattering opportunity for practicing


law, with his wife and child removed tc


New York. But few weeks after com.
ing to the city he learned of desirable
residence about two miles from the noise
and hustle of the city. 1t had been the


property of a merchant who had engaged


too largely in speculation, and his fnan


cial affairs becoming entangled he hac


failed, and the property was to be sole


within thirty days. So the residence


was purchased by Mr.. Stanley, and Mr.


Sullivan, the broken merchant, with hi.


lovely young wife and boy, left their flint


home and moved to distant part of thu


city, and Mr.. and Mrs. Stanley went t.
their new, home and here four years lat


er we find them reclining in their velve
cushioned chairs, he reading of stocks


bonds and mortgages the rise and fal


in the price of butter and cheese, or med
itating the chances of his last case a
law, while she is dreaming of the tim
when she and little Minnie wandere,
over the green fields, or played in tn
brook which went dancing and singin
through the meadow or when they sa



beneath the trees, whose waving branch
es threw cooling shade over the doc
Of their fathers cottage. Well she re
membered how, on their tenth birth day
+ they had found under their plates a
! breakfast, each the tiniest coral ring tha
\ ever graced a fairy finger, and shinin
! golden chain with charm attached, W
: on which was engraved their names


Linnie and Minnie That was happ
: day for them, the events of which wei
/ more vividly impressed upon her memor
for the reason that it was the last liz
n occasion which they spent together, fl


before another short year had passe


away death had invaded their hapI
D and peaceful home, and its cold icy han
: had left desolation in place Of the hapI
g home circle, and left the little twin 81
d ters almost alone in the world, while Il
l. loving hearts and tender hands that hi
o cherished them were lying cold and s
n lent beneath. the sod. Little Minn
n was taken INTO the family of an uncl
g who afterwards went to the far west
at The sisters had worn their rings uni
: they could no longer wear them up
ne their fingers. Then, wishing to preser
g. them as their dear parents last gi
u they attached them to their chains al
ee always wore them. Time passed rapi
l ly, as it always does. After years cal
n the news Of Minnie's marriage to n
it. Elliott. Four years later came the S
fit tidings of the decease of Minnie Elliot
and long did Linnie Stanley mourn