Year: 1872




mother is ill and nervous. Please pay me
and let me leave your house forever"


But there were lengths and depths of
sordid meanness in Laura Winterglade's
nature, of which Amber Gray had no con-
ception. 1t would require very white
robe, indeed, TO make an angel of her.


She opened her pocket-book and drew
out bill.


"Here are five dollars" she said, coldly;
chad you proved what you pretended to be
an honest and innocent girl, should pay
you what promised. No earthly power
can ever convince me that you are respect
able person. Take your money and go it
is all you will ever get from me. If you
fall short, advise you to apply to your
long-tried and valued friend Maxwell Fay"


And before Amber Gray's dumb cold
lips could frame an answer, Laura Winter
| glade had swept from the room. She
could have sworn that she heard the street
door shut softly as she stepped across the
messy carpet into the hall, and she went
up stairs, wondering if it was possible she
had BEEN overheard. Fear turks in the
shadow of guilt.


Amber Gray wrapped herself in her
shawl, and made her way out of the great
house with chilly numbness in her limbs
and dull despair at her heart. Never in
all her years of toll and privation, had she
felt such crushing sense of her lonely and
desolate position.


"Only five dollars for twelve days of pa
tient and unremitting toll Weeks may
elapse before / find another situation, for
that dreadful woman will doubtless do all
is growing bitterly cold, and we are need
ing fuel, provisions and winter clothing.
Alas, too, for my holiday surprises /
meant to buy so many things. Delicate
food for mother, and a bright plaid dress
for dear little Myrtle. But all that is hope
less now; Christmas and the New Year,
that should be crowned with peace and
plenty, can bring nothing but misery to our
dwelling. And to think I must suffer all
this wrong and injustice just because hap
pen to be pretty. 1 wish there was some
invention of the toilet warranted to produce
red hair and freckles But let me be pa
tient. cannot think that God has quite
forgotten us. Mother says he never makes
mistakes, aud perhaps after all, he is lead
ing us in ways we know not off,
Crushing back the tears that were blind
ing her, she walked on rapidly, and, turning
a corner she slipped and would have fallen
on the icy pavement but for the strong arm
stretched suddenly out to uphold her.


Poor tired child escaped like dove,
wounded and bleeding, from the very talons
of vulture. All, my child take courage
All women are not Laura Winterglades.


She knew the kind voice instantly. Just
then, too, the light from gas-lit window
streamed across his face-Maxwell Fay's
face-that always beamed upon her like
benediction.


80 Mr.. Fay did notthink any one could
have been SO bitterly cruel, so meanly dis
honest. But how came you to know?
Did you hear all she said ?''


"Every word and to think / should
have allowed my preference for your socie-
ty to betray me into causing you so much
pain But 1 did it ignorantly. l never
dreamed of her being such tigress of
jealousy and revenge. A sweet wife she
would make, whould she not ?''


81 am tempted to wish some Bluebeard
were living, to WOO and win her," I" said Am
Der. " But how came you to hear her?'


"Fate ordained it, think. On reaching
my Office, after my call this afternoon, l
missed business letter from my coat poclI-
ct, and fancied l might have dropped it
on the parlor floor. Arriving, / found the
street door ajar, the hall shadowy; / heard
voices, too, yours and hers. Well--you
know how almost impossible it is to refrain
from listening when we hear own names.
But, Miss Gray forget that which Miss
Winterglade has said. She will prove but
feeble enemy, aud shall never injure or
insult you again. No doubt you are won
dering how ever came to be constant
visitor there, and, indeed, never was
very constant, until the certainty of seeing
you drew me daily. The truth is, made
Miss Winterglade's acquaintance solely
10 please Mr.. Vanstone, my step-father.
He saw her somewhere and admired her
extremely. He is getting old and childish,
and wishes to see me settled in life."


He had one of Amber's little chilled
hands clasped in his own now, as he walk
ed close beside her. and his voice and pres
encs SC emed 70 waim and comfort her like