Year: 1876

The tears rose to my eyes as L tried to
answer him, but could not speak word,


"And you will let Inc find long letter
when get there9" he said tenderly.


Eyes, Jack, PROMISE" 1 said, and then
II was time 10 return, for the hours had
glided by, how we could not tell.


Jack spent the evening with us at home,
and then he lelt us hurriedly, for our fare
wells had been said in the wood, and'it was
one hearty kiss, given and taken before the
old people, and then goodby.


But l saw him pass soon after daybreak
and he saw me and waved his hand, for 1
had sat by the window all night, lest !
might let him go by, and 1 asleep.


And then time glided on sadly, but pleas
anlly as well. Mine was a busy life, for
soon my father took to his bed, ill,-a bed
he never left again, for he gradually sank
and died, leaving my poor mother in very
Indifferent circumstances.


1t was bard blow for us both, for he had
been one Of the kindest and truest of men /;
but while mother pined and waited, had
my hopeful days in view, and from time to
time letters from Jack, all SO true and hon
est, and full of trust in The future, that /
felt as if could not repine, even when
greater trouble fell upon me.


For at the end of two years was stand
ing by the bedside where lay poor mother,
sinking fast. She had no particular all
ment, but had literally pined and wasted
away. The bird had lost its mate of many
years and when at last she kissed me, and
GGroolI,,, . A., -. l.a -,
quiet rest-seeklng spirit, and she spoke
like one looking hopefully forward TO the
meeting with him who had gone before.


But she could think of me even then,
and almost the last whispered words were, =


"Only eleven months, Grace, and then
he will be back to fetch you"


Poor mother she would not have passed
so peacefully away if she had known that
which withheld, ,-namely, the news that
came to me from our lawyer. For, through
the failure of the enterprise in which my
fathers savings had been Invested, and
which brought us little income of sixty
pounds a year, was left penniless, so
poor, in fact, that the furniture of the cot
tage in the little town, 10 which we had
moved when we left the farm, had TO be
sold to defray the funeral expenses.


It was very hard to bear, and for month
was terribly depressed; but there was
that great hopeful time ever drawing near
er,-the end of the three years, when Jack
would come TO fetch me TO be his wife.


1t was now for tho first time that TO-
member feeling particular about my per-
sonal appearance; and studied my glass
to see if Jack would find me looking care
worn and thin, and my glass told me truly
yes.


But had 10 be up and doing, aud before
another month was over, through the kind
ness of people whom 1 had known, was
placed where could work contentedly for
the bread l must earn till Jack should come
10 fetch me away.


1t was at a large, West-End dressmak-
er's and 1t was hard work TO get used to the
hurry and excitement of the place, where
there were twelve girls living in the house,
and as many more came every day.


There were all kinds of petty pieces of
tyranny TO submit 10 at first, and suppose
some of the foolish girls we're jealous of
me and my looks, SO much so that found
they nckna me "The Beauty" Poor
girls If they had only known how little
store set by my looks, they would have
behaved at first as they did later on.


The first thing that won them to me was
when Mary Sanders was taken i'll with a
terrible fever. Madame Granger yas for
sending her away at once, on account of
her business, and the infection but the
doctor who was called in, young, impet-
uous, but very clever man, told her that it
would be at her peril if she did so, for Ma
ry Sanders life was in danger. So the
poor girl was shut up in her bedroom, with
out soul to go near her except a hired
nurse, and afler the first night this woman
stayed away.


No one dared go near the poor girl then,
so timidly asked leave TO nurse her, for l
felt no fear OF the infection, aud it seemed
so hard for her 10 he left there alone.


1 obtained leave, and went up stairs,
staying with her till she recovered and
from that day there was always a kind look
for me, and kiss from every girl in the
place.


What was more, oddly enough, perhaps
because l was so quiet aud restrained, first
one girl and then another, came TO make
me the confidante of her love secrets, and
ask my advice.


gave it such as II was, though heartsore
myself for Jacks letters had suddenly
ceased. We had corresponded so regular
letters had been formal and constrained
they were full of business matters too, aud
he had limited at its being possible that he
should not be able to keep time about
three years, in consequence Of some con-
tract.


did not think this when / first read
these letters, for then 1 had kissed and cried
over them; but when no reply came TO my
last, Ie-read them, and the coldness SEEM
ed apparent.


But waited and waited, and then news
came from the country. Jacks father, q
widower, had died suddenly and said Ia
myself, with throbbing heart, as longed
TO be at his side TO try and comfort him in
his affllction, "Poor Jack, he will come
home now."


But he did not come, neither did gel
""y ieP'J w NY iast t"o 'eteeis' AnOtuei
month, and three years would be up; and
as sat over some work one spring morn
ing by the open window, with bunch o.
violets that one of the girls had brought
me in a glsss, the soft breeze that came
floating over the chimney-pots and sooty'
roofs, waited to me the scent of the humbl,
little blossoms, and my eyes became full o
tears, for in an instant the busy work-roon
had passed away, and was down home by
the river side, listening to dear Jack, as HI
asked me to be his wife.


Only month only month my pull