Year: 1873

The speaker was a beautiful wo-
man. She was standing in the shad-
owy corner of the hall and looking
into room whose door was partial
ly open, and from which the sound
of o clear, sweet voice came floating
in the words of some old song, ac-
companied by the vibrant melody
of piano touched deftly and soft
ly.


81 hate her"


The woman's face was full of dark
thoughts. She was like tiger, Just
then, which sees its prey but cannot
spring upon it.


What she saw was a man stand
ing at the piano; tall, handsome
fellow, with fair, Saxon face and
blonde hair and beard and seated
at the instrument was girl with a
slight, supple figure, and the pret-
tiest of wildrose faces, with flood
of brown hair falling over neck and
shoulders in a ripping flow, held
back from the clear face by blue
ribbon. The girl was singing, and
the man was watching her with
tender light in his blue eyes.


"How l would like to be her mis-
tress," Kissed Katharine We're, as she
stood there in the shadow and
watched the pretty picture. Cnly
she could not appreciate the beauty
which other and less jealous eyes
might have been able to see.


Miss We're had come to Vavasour
Place on purpose to ensnare and
marry Bernard Vavasour. She had
heard much Of the handsome
young heir of the Vavasour estates,
and had formed a very favorable
opinion of him before she met him.
He was clever, cultivated and rich.
When she met him she resolved at
once to make a final conquest, and
crown a long series of triumphs by
securing the most eligible match of
the season.


SO when Mrs. John Vavasour,
who was wife to Bernard's cousin,
and who came to Vavasour Place
every summer to do the honors, in
vited her to spend the summer there,
Katharine We're was ready to ac-
cept. And determined on victory
Miss We're entered vigorously on
the campaign, and proceeded to lay
siege to Bernard Vavasour's heart
at once.


And there at Vavasour PlaceMiss
We're met tho woman she hated in
the person Of Rose Grayle. She
was governess to Mrs. John Vavas-
ours two children shy, sweet
girl with the prettiest face imagin-
able, and a modest, refined manner
that stamped her at once as real
lady.


For Rose Graylc stood between
Miss We're and the man she wanted
to marry. If she had chosen to ex-
ert the influence she held over him
Rose Grayle could have kept Ber-
nard Vavasour at her side, and Miss
Vere's skilful manouvers to secure
his attention would have proved
failures. But she did not choose to
exert that power. She made no eff
fort to keep him by her. She treat
ed him with grave, sweet cour-
tesy, and accepted the attentions
which he gave her as any other lady
might have done.


Miss We're saw that Rose had on
ly to say the word and Bernard
Vavasour was her most loyal sub
ject. She saw too, that she had a
pride that was strong and deep, and
managed, by a skilful tact which
she possessed, to keep the girl re-
minded of the difference between
her station and that in which Ber-
nard Vavasour moved. Conse-
quently Miss Grayle wore q sort Of
reserve which served to keep Mr..
Vavasour "from going too far" rs
Miss We're congratulated herself.


Sometimes Miss We're fancied she
was gaining ground on the field, and
then a word or O look from Miss
Grayle would put her in distrust of
the advantage she thought to have
gained. So easy it was for the girl
to defeat her plan utterly, il she
chose to do so. And that was why
Miss We're hated Miss Grayle.


And so, in alternate hope of sue
cess, and consciousness of slow if
any progress, the weeks slipped by,
and at last Miss We're resolved on q
little strategy, on the principle, l
suppose, that "all is fairin love and
war;"


One day Mrs. Vavasour discover
ed that n valuable diamond ring
was missing.


"Whcre did YOU have IL last =