Year: 1876

Meta. Perhaps she had seen The way
Lucian's eyes had followed her, and il,
had given her certain illumination that
made her shrink.


Just then the band began one of the
Hungarian waltZes-a sweet and rapiur-
Gus measure that set the blood itself TO
dancing in ones veins. Why notP One
last dance, one last moment OF ecstacy,
ere he went out forever into loneliness
Directly he crumpled the bit OF lace into
his pocket, aud was bending before the
little Rosa, who seemed suddenly TO have
lost all her light gaety, and who put out
her hand to him with conscious burn
ing blush upon her face that his heart re-
flected in melting glow. And then
there was no thought OF pride, of mega
ton. or forgetting; the music was swing
ing them at its will; they circled in each
others arms to its delicious and delirious
movemenl-eternity would hardly have
any bliss for lovers beyond the bliss of
this moment. Yet only a moment was
it, few moments. a brief, sweet space
of half-conscious time aud then faint
recognition crept through its spell and
warned Lucian OF the poison in the
honey. He was in the act OF surrender !;
be was about TO seal his late and that OF
/ o.,


This dear girl to take her away from her
'athers wealth and her luxurious ease,
and condemn her 10 TIE cIrking cares OF
poverty. All his nature rebelled; he
chose no. to be swayed by this melody oil
horns and strings; he would have no
passion, neither music or love. so master
| his soul as TO become the element in
which 1t swan, an exclusion Of thought
and fear, of sight and sound. and all
other emoii n and with his imperious
determination, be chose TO break the en-
chantment the real world crept back
upon his senses; ho heard the tune, be-
yond this cloud that wrapped them.
breaking again into its distinctive meas
ure and, exerting his will, he controlled
their steps, and paused a, last beside Mrs
Barnetta. and with low bow, and with
out a word. gave Rosa back into that
lady'S care. and passed into the crowd
and ont OF the place, and home to his
lonely rooms.


II was daybreak before be sought re-
pose, walking the floor Till then, hardly
knowing what he did or what be thought,
but iDtent upon conquering himself. He
would give the world for Rosa Mercers
love, but he would not give his pride.
To him that pride meant self respect TO
marry her. the child OF opulence. meant
either TO sell himself tor price or re-
duce her 10 trouble and WEAKNESS in
which her love might soon wear out
lie did not doubt that love uow. With
out liable OF speech he felt sure OF it.
| While il thrilled him wildly and deeply
it cast Il sudden shadow Of regret; ne
only hoped, and cursed his fate that
caused him to hope such thing. that
presently the love would pass, and some
one who would make her happier would
claim her. At length, with maledicIions
in the act. he emptied his pockets OF the
| gloves. handkerchief. and trifles there,
and went 10 bed with the sun coming
| through the curtains, and, worn out 10
body and mind. slept 10 the blessed and
thorough oblivion of all the world.
! When be awoke it WAS late iu the day.
All his troubles rushed over him, but in
moment his will 10 repel il rose, too
He dressed himself leisurely be meant
TO call that night on Miss Mercer restore
! her handkerchief that he had forgotten
10 give back alter the dauce, and in
some indirect way let her know that he
intended never TO marry. and so seal his
doom beyond hope. He went into the
next room where he had completed his
toilet. and after attending 10 one or two
other affairs. looked Tor the handkerchief
that he remembered 10 have taken from
his pocket and to have tossed upon the
table there. II was not on the table; it
was nowhere in the room. Ia panic,
he rang the bell, and when it was ans
wered, instituted an inquiry concerning
the thing Yes. indeed, Susan had seen
it, and thought it was so yellow and
soiled she would take il down and wash
ii. "Lors. sir, il was the dirtiest little
ag," she said Just straw color. And,
thought I'd give it run through the
tub and the blueing, and make it fit 10
be seen."


Good heavensI" be cried, with q
! Mortified flash of remembrance OF having
heard that the yellower lace was the
more precious it was. and that it vas
never washed on any account except by
people who did no'hing else. "Let Us
have it at once" And in FIVE minutes
afterward Susan stood before him hold
ing up little limp rag. and with pang
us from the blow oil something unknown
and dreadful, the conversation that be
had heard over the transom of the hotel
door, year or TWO ago, swept back
upon his recollection.


Five hundred dolars!" And gone to
grief in a moment! And he could no
more replace it than he could fly, with
out what was the same TO him as abso