Year: 1876

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1


''Of course all artists cannot be equally
gifted. No practice can make the robin
sing like the nightingale, but the robins
note is nevertheless welcome, and cheers
many heart that the song of the nightin-
gale might not reach"


why, Mr.. Merlin, you should be poet
as we'll as painter. wonder how many
OF your brother artists live up to your
idea You must think my profession
prosy enough by comparison. But little
poetry can be extracted from old dusty
records, yet am inclined to think it pays
better from worldly point of view"


They had strolled slowly along till COM
ing to turn in the path Ethel said. hold
ing out her hand


81 must leave you now, but l shall be
pleased to see you either at my office or
boarding house," and she gave him the
address of each.


" Many thanks for the privilege, said
Arthur, land | shall take the liberty of
bringing my sister, who will be much
pleased to make your acquaintance, and
whom l am sure you will like"


So with pleasant words they parted,
and the artist, as he walked slowly home,
thought how well her practical, energetic
and sensible nature would supplement his
own, which he confessed to himself was
rather lacking in sound worldly sense;
and shall we wonder that the handsome
face of her artist friend should look out
the next day upon Ethel from the pages
of the musty records she was busily
searching, and sadly interfere with he-
monotonous occupation.


CuApTEp IT


While Ethel was steadily pursuing her
chosen work in the city, her sister Isabel
remained at the old homestead, filling up
the time with her music and fancy work,
and with receiving visits from her neigh
boring acquaintances and fashionable
friends from the city. Her mother was
always ready to relieve her from any un-
pleasant duties, and never thought OF ask
ing for her assistance in any of the house
hold affairs. If anyone asked why Isabel
did not interest herself more in the do
mestic affairs, her mother always had
some excuse for her, and from the account
she gave you might believe that her daugh-
ter really had not the time to attend to
such matters. All this suited lsabel's ma
ture, and she actually deluded herself
with the belief that she was doing all the
work it was possible for her to accomp-
lish.


During the summer she received visit
from her friend, Blanche Belmont, and the
two girls entered with a zest into the
amusements which fill up the summer
days at country village, resorted to by
visitors from the city for their annual va
cation. Excursions, parties on the lake.
hops and receptions at the hotel, were all
hailed by Isabel as occasions for display
ing her admirable taste in dress and ex-
tending her acquaintance among the rich
and fashionable. She was determined, if
possible, to marry and live in stylish ele-
gance, and lost no opportunity of cultiva-
ting the acquaintance of such of the young
men as she thought were able to provide
the luxuries that she deemed essential 10
her happiness.


1t was soft, balmy night in early sum-
mer. A beautiful and striking landscape
was presented to view from the windows
of the Hoyoke mansion. At the end of
the visits formed by the overhanging
branches ofthe trees You caught glimpses
of the lake glitterng in the moonlight,
while the more distant hills, looming up
dark in the back ground, strengthened and
completed the picture. The silence of the
night was unbroken except by the faint
sound from belated party tar out on the
lake, and the sad monotone of the little
brook flowing over its pebbly bed in the
adjacent meadow.


The two girls had just returned from a
ramble along the shores of the lake, with
party of friends, and were sitting in
Isabers chamber slowly disrobing tor the
night.


blanche" said Isabel, as she undid the
fastenings of her hair, and let it fall about
her in luxurious waves, II have great
secret to tell you. While we were walk
ing tonight, Herbert Baker told me all
about his elegant house in the city, with
its rich and costly appointments, and
asked me if l loved him, and would come
and take charge of his establishment. He
said many other kind and pleasant things,
and before | realized much about the mat
ter l had promised to be his wife, and
found myself with his arms round me,
and heard him say how happy had made
him. Now, Blanche, won't it be splendid
to have such an elegant house with lots
of servantsP What grand times we will
have when you come to visit met"


80, Isabel, that will be perfectly de-
lighttul,' exclaimed Blanche. What q
lucky girl you are to have so grand a
chance to marry and get such splendid
establishment in the city. BY the way,
have you heard from Ethel lately? What
queer freak of hers to start out alone in
the world. hear, however, that she is
getting along famously."


al forgot to tell you," said Isabel; "that
had a letter to-day from Ethel, and il
you can believe it, she says she is really
going to marry Arthur Merlin. Just think
of the independent Ethel consenting to be
the wife of anyone. She writes that she
has mastered her profession, and is per-
fectly willing to put it aside and work in
another sphere as the wife OF Arthur Mer-
lin, and that she shall all the more appre-
ciate the quiet of her home because of her
Of the busy, restless crowd
without. So, Blanche. you may have an
invitation to double wedding before long.
But just see how late it is! We must stop
talking and 60 to bed. or we shall not on-
JOY tomorrow excursion 49,


And so it happened that ON one Of those
bright autumn days when in the woods
around the Suuireis quaint old house the