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• A LITTTE TALK. A STORY r 11/ Harriet Prescott Rpoffard. [Copyrighted, ISM, by 8. S. McClure.] Such a lovely thing It was, that home on Ferncroft Hill, with Its lawm and gnrdona and groves about lt, you could never fancy evil coming near it. Such a lovely atmosphere of peace and bcanty was there, sneh lovely woman were sitting In their wlckor chairs on the flag, ged space under the shadow of the lofty group of Interlacing elms, surrounded by the brilliant beds and great vases of flowers flaming in the sun beyond! For all the world suclf Innocent ideal life It seemed, this life of theirs, in such » plan, as that life pictured on the Watteau fans. But after all, was that Watteau lift any thing but wolfish guilt and conspiracy masque* radlng under lamblike fleece with pastoral gam bols? Yet, to say troth, thtro was never woman made with leu conspiracy end guilt about her than Mrs. Louie, the responsible lift and soul of tho place; I doubt If the was ever acquaint ed with an artldee before that crnel December day; certainly aho nover wu nftorwnrd, And surely her paler ahadow, Mias Margaret, had less of enrth than heaven in her competition; and the breath of reproaah in -any sort had r nover touched the stately Laura, nor the pretty Bose, nor Julia, nor Virginia, nor any of tho rest of the alstera and slstert-ln-law and ooaalna who made the place gay and helped live this Ufe.of a perpetual pleasure party. So why did I speak of the Watteau life of guilt at all? When Francis and Bussell and Herbert cams home in the afternoon from the hot and dusty city it Homed to them that they came to a life above the clonds, a course left over after Eden, and they grumbled all tho morning at golug away, and felt as though there were wings on their feet, hurrying, impatient wings, all the afternoon iu thinking of coming back. It w.u so cool there under tho trees, so sweet, so fur from turmoil! Ko thought of trouble there, no loud voices, or bitter words, nothing more noisy than the bees and breezes In tho tops of - tho trees, nothing, at least, till Mts. Flossy - Venning camo, and then It was a ripplo of laughter and exclamation and question and * answer alt day long, breaking In on'Julia's song, or Boso’s guitar, or Laura's alow reading of somo verso eho loved, or Mrs. Louie’s lulla bies; and when it was not laughter it was deep, absorbed interest m the lust thrilling recital of tho straugo doings among tho poople whom Mrs. Flossy-Venning know or heard about, but who, for tho most part, seemed to he a sort that never entered into the Innocent.circle of JYracri.lt IliU cxc|||^tbrough Mrs.. J-'lessj at mircaorr hill. Venning's gossips. Sbt did not come there every yesr, however, and when she did coma she brought such word of tho outsido world to those gentle peoplo who knew so little of it thatshs was like tho open pages of a fairy book to them. Thtlr own lift was so qaiet that pononal news of those whoso nernes tboy heard in dull rumor far remote, or road of In the journals, gava a sort of enlarging acquain tance with them, and Mrs. Venning found her- veir encouraged till word of tba grant plsyot's domestic meannesses, and of tho great novel ist's private Jealousies, and the great poet's sly Iovo aflhirs, led on to gossip shout any of her acquaintances that had tho least piquancy or flavor, lfthey had known it was gossip, (bow horrified they would have been 1 As it was, they considered It only Flossy Venning's little he story of the way Ms wife and the way talk. Today It . General Tollifer abased that woman held up her head, and called Mm •■Dear," and smiled at people when everybody knew her armiwere black and blue, nui her spirit, oh! her spirits were black and blue, too. “Ah, how thankful I ought to be," thought Mrs. Louie, “that Francis la the perfect Chirac- _ _ And tomorrow tt wnt the story of the my in which Maria Bum smuggled her diamonds through the posteffieo, would yon bo-, lieve It? pin alter pin, with a diamond In the head of It, Jnet planed iu to a letter, tba oflioiala thinking nothing of mneh value would bo sent so carelessly. “And whan yon tee Arietta at a cablnctlre ceptioo, if you ever do sea her. Rote, -it’s Bote's turn to go somewhere now, isn't _ . sine* Lauti went to Florida last year?— when you see bar with a perfect choker of die- ruondsxoand her throat, you'll know how she camo by them 1” ‘•But. I don't aoe," asked Laura, looking np from her book and her hammock: “are things or that sort so much cheaper abroad ?" “Worlds cheaper 1 And you gntlovsly things in the pawnshops. Whv, wagot a tnrqnotao onco in a gem shop at Munich as Mg as the end olyonr thumb, for forty pfennings-Just think of ltl And than Arietta escaped the duties, too. Ok. m thorn nooM was ao cheap a necklace In this country as Arietta'*, oxcopt? io.be sure, th* one that Kickopntorbridf* sold for hU slaters, aad that, well that was such an outrage on decency! Only imagine Ik Leaje, Helena's diamond* that bad horn bar great- grandmother's given to the eldest daughter for four generations, and that brother of bore add them for a song and spent the money on Bis * “Hosr'ihocklng 1 Whom did you say ho “Why. I teUyoa—hsr brother Klrke. And yon never could believe it to am him, om- tinned Mr*. Vanning. “Supuh looking feUow: no tall, and bright-ftced—just like one’s ideal ° t “I < n*virr had‘any Ideal of a Greek cod," said Mm. Louie, feeling klindly that tbo cherishing of tuck an ideal ms like tho tacit countenanc ing of such a nation as thiamin wko defraud ed his Motor, Itinay Is. u •Well. I should be sorry to knee my ideal do such a thing ns that," said Boa*, taking a new needleful of her annsene, and happy la the • that inch poople and such thing* his bend or not* hot heard of him everywhere, they say, one wild whirl of ditalpstlon; and house alter house went, one piece of property alter another, and at last there was nothing left of all that for tune bnt the old homestead mansion In what bad become a cheap out-of-the-my street, and their pictures and books and jewelry. Ho re fold .to tell that old mention house, to my cer* tain knowledge, because the buyer Insisted upon settling thi bad to gives rtgsgo on the home, In order time to previ pledge the dlamouds, and ham.— —— „. Klrke; and Instead of pledging them he told them outright, and that is the last they ever heard of lb I never quite understood about tho mortgage and sll task perhaps; hut I know the woman who wean tho diamonds—ah least I’ve had tqem pointed not to mo on her. It wouldn't be so bad, you know, if ho hadn't been living a luxurious Ufa blmsalf of riotous days and nights, as they say, till [he is com: pletsly worn out with his dissipation by this time. Never ms anythlog bnt what they call a man about town, anyway- I-do- pity those Outbridge girl*!" "Poor thing*, its e shame, a wicked shame!" esld Mis. Loole; “can't anything be done to uve wbat they-have left and keep that ont of bis clutches V” 'I don’t suppose than can. They adore him, you know, sndbslievi in him, for nil. Mels juitibo sort of man some women adore. I his clutches?" teupposo in know, and believe in him, for' nil. Me jrtof n despise the sort!" “And so do I. What a despicable srreteh! And such n sacred trust—his own younr siston. his dying Hither’s charge! How coaid he ? Oh, Flony, it seems to mo tho world ont there is too full of wickedness to continue— something must happen—the way It did to the five cities of the plain. I can’t be thankful enough that we are shut In from It here. It makes me tremble to think- how superior Franc! is to nil that kind of mon—how good he is never to bring homo anything of that cor rupt world. Perhaps ho nover sees anything oflt—be never mentions such things, that I remember. I should feel ns if the elimeofthe terpen* had soiled ns nil if sneh a man slept ono night beneath the roof bore." "Well he Isn’t likely - 16 come thts w»y,’ r laughed Flossy. “Vourllft would have no at tractions for him. And If he did you would all he captivated with him. He knows how to win the heart ont of war body.” “Stop a moment, Flossy,” said Laura, who was now sitting up In her hammock, with a whits, Ectfaco, "I think it right to sty to yon, to Louie, to nil tho rest,- that 1 .know this gentleman conoernlng whom such extraordi nary statements are made. I know him very well. And there la not n srotd of truth in nil of them. Ho la the noblest, loftiest—” “Dear, dear," said Mrs. Flossy. “Dldn 1 1 toll yon he could win tho heart ont of your body? Here’s • caeo in point. What was that—oh, my goodness, wlmt wm that? Thunder'.’ And , there It is again .' You don’t alt ML nudpr these iretsIsa lliundcrgust nnd temw Pro?.- denOS ” “Ttanpt Providence to what?” asked ltoie,' although gathering up her balls. * “To nothing, sorer ns I am conoemed, for I go in,” said Mrs. Venning. “I shan’t stay ont with thunderbolts blowing about those hills. Gracious, what n flash! I should liko to live in ; California or.somewhere where thore are no thunderstorms; but there yon have to lutve earthquakes, and I don’t know what la worse. ’There’* nothing true but heaven,’ ’’ oho aang, rushing after her flying silka and wools, ar.d hurrying nwuy, followed by nil the others, «*ve Laura. 8ho sat thore till, rsrelres of rain or wind. If tho lightning chose to thrnst its blade down among ho trees and And her ont— let it! Itwontdbo a good day’s work. For that was this atory about Kirk* Oatorbrldgo that ah* had just bean obliged to beer—Klrke Oatorbrldgo, In whomjbo lov* of her Ufo was bound, although neither Boas, nor Louie, nor Virginia, nor Ju lia, nor Margaret, knew that ehe had ever met him. How should they, Indeed, when It had been settled between tba lovers In Florida whither Laura had journeyed with n friend the year before, that not unless his health wu thoroughly regained should lov* be apekea of again between them—health seeming then n far off thing to Klrke Ontorbrldga with his racking cough and aching aide, hla Inheritance from his gentle, early-dying mother. The storm tamo down about poor Laura there; but there was a worse storm In her poor heart—a storm of anger nnd disgust at the outrage on n men’e good name, of half a donbt, a pang of unwhlspered horror leat any of It might be true—n atorm of indignant protest, of Impo tent wrath, of sclf-contcmpt,of passionate ap peal to lore. But at hut eho row Intuitively and went in before the wu completely dronoh- tremor HH _ to her, nobody theta thought anything more of Klrko Outerbridgc or of bia listen. The Interest of Mrs. Flossy Venning’s nut story lu pc reed id that In their mlnda; and at last she and bar stories had gone together, nnd other gneata with other characteristic* had taken her place; and Mrs. Louie ires busy with her pleasant household cares, and her cue of other people, aud Laura with the poor, la whole sorrows aho lost her own—If It really wens sorrow to love and he beloved, although unknown to any. And eo summer wore into autumn, nnd the autumn into winter, u cold and wild n winter as ever mads the' coining spring seem nn Im possibility nnd n miracle. diamonds; and he raised enough money on it to buy this house—ho wouldn’t positively soil Ik because ho says if his rebomes work right he’ll hive tt hade again—aud be cells the house a lyshow raaprol tkfttn from our darling brother! He sent mail Sway for a month at tho seaside, and when wo cant beak bebrought ns here, and here nil onr pet things; everything movod, everything done, every room in the house rented tojrespcc teblo people, so that we are sure of n living, he says, let what will come to him. 0. wo shouldn't tore anything about a living IfAoythlhglll came to him!" “ And he took the little lull chamber him* self,” said Helena; "nnd Insists uponpaying ns rant fer that. He la sneh an amusing bey! He says it is i ' - ‘ for him, tl tamed ont mty of n < ho went nbont leading a gey, careless life that might have degenerated Into something worse if nn hadn’t been brooght up with n round' tom; nnd that having to bo ont In tho world, and dealing with rich and gtypeople, It is for- -—■- *- - lisaurh af " him to ko Into this. I could get Col. Evans, to?, and that would make tho thing surd. It comer to mo llko au Inspiration—ami you should al ways attend to an inspiration on tbo apot. II itwasn't 86 confoundedly cold and raw nnd get ting up fora blustering night I’d be disposed to try It. And I don’t know why tbo wosther should stand In the way. I might take the 3 o’clock train tomorrow, If I don’t find Fern croft intown, that gets modownnthalf past ftur, do mywork there, take the train fer Evanston-afterward, and bo back on Mia mid night train. Wo matter If it Is Saturday. And If I succeed, then the whole thing's as good as done—my girt* are independent, let what wilt follow—and peeelbly—possibly—” And when the girls bed gone ef? behind their soreens to their soft * e*z r™i- lD i ***■*« oof responsibility;i ; nnd bones,anas that, ever tempted him; the thought of neon hit hands would b* and ha? boon his saving grace. Isn’t that heantlftl for blot to say when sre felt wo trero really only a burden? O, I don’t hnow what we shootd do lr it wasn't for him—he to brother nnd father and hus-i. band to all three of us. We don’t want any body else a* longne we hnv* Klrke.” “He la >0 kind, to cheering, so helpful, so uuolflib, so considerate,'* chimed in Anna. “And it’s Lust n pleasure to- look at him, he’s so beautiful P’ cried Helen*. “Wall,' If thla isn’t here worship," exclaimed' their crony, " tell me whet-la?” “Bnt we’re, worried to death about his health,” continued Anna. “That oough of his teaaoasTory ono to pieces—as mush-as It does him—It seems too bad that it eeoldn’t bare come to one of us girls, motber’acough. Ws all set out last fall that he should go to Florida for it—it took onr united effort to enr- ry the day; and it was long first; bnt Dr. Day .... U| sniDtoc his lift a roar ft ho wanted to live for ■Bit said ho would not guana guarantee his llfoarcat he didn’t go, and-If he wanted to 11vol.. nothing eli« than to bo of uao to ns girl* ho must go. And hataid—only jnattfalnk! Klrko said It sre* of (he-utmost Importance for him to lire till the city could be penuaded to toko theoldOuterbrldgo placo for its now publlo buildings and ran n street through the garden —that la hla great scheme, yon know, to make all oor Untune*—the dty will pay such a price fbr the plan, nod the lot* In the garden will ipeaklc comparatively speaking,- If s to have It done, or if ho < himself; bat it takes ao me can only manage HI only do it nil by himself; bnt it taken so much time ana-talking end inilucnco. I am nfrnuf I ho will gcfcaJl worn out iu trying, and wo nrgo him to let it all alone, and juMjlivc along as we trust of Hfereft*, docs It. What do wo care about fortunes?" . "They aro very pleasant things—fortunes— nevertheless,” said llicir listener. “The dear heart forgets all about himself." said Kato. “I know ho thinks ho Is doomed. For sometimes,’’ lowering her tremhli ug tones, “ho looks at ns, sad I se<|tesrs swim Into his eyes; nnd I know ho Is thinking who will toko care of ns, stand be twcon ns and tho world, a Rer he is gone; and then we sll znnko bollsve wo are so merry, and Helena begins to play a tarantella, and Anna begins to sing and dance it as if she was to gay aha conldn’t keep still, and IJnst sit nna hold his hand. O! I don't think I can hear it!" “I don't know if its nil for na that some times Klrko is so dull," said Helens. “Onos in a while I fluey there was somebody in Florida—and yon know Klrke it so high-spir ited ha never would marry ir ho thought his ■ it, if be In your hands and his—your experience is more than mine in tliht direction." “Well, come along. Woll settlo tho matter pro or cost speedily. If yon won’t stay over- night I wouldn't lievo you lose that train fer twice the money! 1 It wonld be blood monoy!” Bnt as they went their way to tho door, Klrko Oatorbrldgo looked about him at tho place flaunted by one fair pretence, seeking perhaps some sign of her. Haw should he have known that It ires-upon Laura's open hook that quietly and unseen he laid the fresh and dewy hunch of violets he hnd brought? 1 At the word “btulnosa” Mrs. Louie had swiftly Tend discreetly withdrawn; and now coming to a toiler comprehension of thoevont she stood in the adjoining mnsio room, where sho would stilt hear tbs Inarticulate murmur of their voices, qutvorinjr with Indignation. Klrke (lutcrbridgol That wretch, that rep robate, that dissolute, bad man,the swindler o( his sisters, the utterly, base nnd contemptible person, inside her doors! That creature here, bids,, and ho had tfrod blmsolf >.!lug over bis accounts, whore for yeati.few- had been the peunioo to bo recorded as wasted, he still rat there, with tho last of tho fire throwing Its flicker uvor walls and draperies in all fantastic shadows, lost in a happy dream, tho placo toll of visions all rising from that- cue word “possjbly.” Poor Klrko’ Outcrhrlilgo! Slnco tho yba or his early manhood lie ono had over tost more tolly than he tho truth of tho words Ul_.. “men Is hern to tumble as tho sparks fly un- ward.” From the day his father died mid loft.’ on Ills hands hi* three aiders and. .tho most cmiim-ly involved estate tlinl ever foil l:uv- (suits, he had neverknown what rest was. .Vow 'lie saw mt just before him. How fair looked A vsly dlflfcrent place from the lovely hill side heme was the small city house In “ the were for astride their sphere, "Wasn't It dreadful f Yen knew their father iar«r sssss art must have left a million dollars' worth of house! and real estate, and Klrke was the o-w- cutor and manager, and all that I don’t knew dark, noisy street, where the young girls kept tbs baas meet and one floor and rented thereat to lodger*. That ops floor they had certainly mad* • harming with tho remnants of nn old splen dor that had once aurroundsd them—soma bcantttol family portraits of Mastered chll- , tome old draperies whose very tarnish n chum, hooka, screens, bill of china, nothing, indeed, new, bnt everything sugges tive of quiet beast/ and of real comfort? al though within More nnd somewhat narrow bounds. “If anyone had told na that we girls could havshesneo contented on ana floor, wit h scram wad taAobodsteads, and door hrothsr 1-i just p ball chamber, w* never should bats bi- llevsd It," Anna, one of the girls, WMtiyltrx to an intimate, In that eery twilight tlia: which tempts to open expression. ‘•Well, we ahotli have been, if b* haln’c such an Inventive mind: w* owe thn whole of this pretty comfort to him," said Kate. “ Wo ehoulfl have sold everything at once, nnd h iva nutted to lock fbr mean new things—J4ts fancy—or cheap furnished rooms. But heatld they would nercr bring a fraction of their worth to ns, and no matter whet happened, wo should noth* stripped of tba thing) that htd always been about ns? and that nukes even this olsce seem like home. There- never wu Eucbnhretherl How tench he has been t* us * vir since fhther died and left things tocos- fused, though brother says if hn had Uvad everything would have worked ont well; hat see misfortune bos followed on another ever since, and fm rare nobody the in Kirks'* health would have kad the coongotodo ail that he ha* dona, H* hu ununy ideas, to*. Do yon know, he look Helena's old diamond have worn it, Helena couldn't? sad we don’t go anywhere saw where any of a* coaM weir health did not Justify it, If be thought not going to lire. And thon I don’t know uut he may have reasoned that he ought not to marry with us upon hla baud*—and, oh, yoa don’t believe,” cried Helens, qnice breaking down, that we are really atanding in th* way ofKIrk’a happiness, we .three great, useless girls? It would break our hearts! And it would ho to lovely If he had n beautiful wife to make him as happy a*ho always madens, and to he one of n»,too, even Ifahehadto live In onr crowded qnsrtors. We wonld do everything tor her—only It seeme as though it should be happiness enough -or her just to be Kirk’s wife." “Klrke Is so bright and sunny and original,'' said Kate, taking up the bunlcn. “I think 1 am awtolly good to listen to yon,” raid their Mend, “slnco I am not In love with him, end since—” “0,r ' ' ‘ nnsgp things—once he took nil onr 'a too good for this world!'’ " said the friend. “Nebtdyfe •expected Chriatau pre cost, you know, gad nude us send a man dying of consumption out to Texas,ud called bias onr emigrant, and followed bis fortntua, and Urt Dsn’s allra now on n rancho nnd bringing ont other consumptives, o, yoa, Klrke istways cornea In chccrftl, bo always has aomothlng to tell, ho always has some now pleasures to pro pose, if its only s night at the theater.” “And ba mafcen you leave oil' thinking of yon nairas by giving yon something ala* to think of. He tells us of people he bog found poorer than we are, and he says If wo have nothingelw to glv* wa can give ourselves; end ho goes with us sometimes, and comas for ns other times, when wo go to sit and read with persona who are bedridden nnd disabled and have nobody. O, there never was rath a man as Klrke. “Ml too | havi ter than anybody die in "Well, it mtkeana cringe somatimas to think bow perfect ho la, and how miserable he Is. It’s Jnet in the Bne of the way things mare that we should lose him becaaeo bo's eo Inval uable. ud so—" 'Things don't mere that way,” said Helena. “ IPs wicked to nay ao. Only, if anythlog should happen to Klrke, it would happen Jnat the lame to all ot tu, he ts to prertoas to us? ai d ire do so srant him to Ufa after ail share wiu irtaa. . And just then tho hay toned in the latch, ud Klrke came In, the tall, bright, knightly fellow,and after theaxhaastienof* fit of cough- log had subsided) proceeded to show the girls and their friand a new trick of legerdemain, a meet interesting trick, wktek tamed a par cel *f pennies into a shower of chocolate creams, and then he took from hla groat-ooat pocket tho lost new poere end read a part of it to than; ansi, after the friand had gaaa, ont raiMlk mapt ill nitrating kic boil domic hemes * ith the old Mbs* and land, and ha axplaiaed anew to th* listen hi* Immediate plans, shear ing tii«* th* advantage of this and the disad- vantage of that. “If the Mty doe* this, it is care ud cans potency for us nil,’’ ha said. “Bnt lately it has seemed to me that if I could poe- tibly do it myself, or with the aid of bat on* or two other*- one or two others I must hare- tken It Is absolute wealth. Ansi I'v* htlf the mind to try. Half tea atfasdl’’ he sai l. “1 to try. I know of a good fellow dawn --Tp|»dy*« a sre no so nan aim n> uvo attar an snore ary yean la which bn has hast so littl* are* i luppinfM of his awn. H* has bean.Bring bet’s Ufa and man; not 'hlrewn ” on Fcincroft Ulll.withp I think h* wonld do nay I wonld do anything he I ?ef ready meney. ' atk—I kuw If I coni I get recesses perhaps health " 'jkwould te with tho leak and so van bofore ho left It. coldest day of the year, a day the tscomdd tho raider .bocauac there was ns snow on tho hard andfrozen ground, when acnrrlngqdrov* raj Idly up Ferncroft Hill, ud a visitor \ crcd Into the great square drawing-room that nlwnys seemed In winter liko n space of the remaining summer. There were hone there at tie moment but Freneis ud Hrs. Loufo; and ns the light of tho fire shot nn on all tho Idao and silver of the room, and lalda its ruby glow on the gnest’e face ud lofty bearing, Mm. Louie found hotaeir thinking that with inch a faceand hearing tho knights of ancient story i-bould bsvo carried tbemsclvos—when nil tho fsbria of her too swift fancy was -shattered liko n pricked bubble by Francis’ exclamation, ukecricd: “Onurhridge! KirkcOntorbridgo! Yon down hero »nd out in thi* allocking weather! Louie, thts Is my friend. Mr. Out- ertridgo—my wife, Klrke. Why, toll me wbat thi* means? I am delighted to see yon—bnt In your et*t* of health—or srant of health— thi* weather—you ere It’* lurprieing!" “Ko wonder,” laughed Mr. Ontorhrldg, af ter n stately greeting. “Mo wonder that I wonder' Here, drew thi* chair ^to th* blase. You moat be cbUltd—" “Mo, ao. Tho fact Is, I had a matter of bus- inern that wouldn’t wait.” “Yon mesa sen wouldn't wait. Thosamo Impulalve hall* winged mortal that yon uud to “And I can't wait now. It ha* occurred to m*, In relation to tbo afllslr of which I was cure speaking to yon, rent* time ago, that It I* quito as fcaaihlo to manage that In n private way as through the city,and,if yon and colonol Evans rare to go In with me on eqo*l terms, It might bo wotth your while. Only the paper has to b# Maned to-night, for Monday thn city acts, and, If wa are before them, be they don't really care, It will be nil right. There la no donbt It’* a great thing, ud ono worth doing;" and, as lie warmed hi* cold hands at tho blase, her end her alrtere, to speak with them? She felt It a contamination! she felt it u Insult! she grew more nnd more eugry, nnd every moment soemtd nn hoar while ehe waited, and jonly served to work bar into freak fever. Thore were Some things, aho said to herself, that she could not bear. This sort of thing was one of them. She wonld not brer It. Sho could endnre n groat'dcal, but this wss alto gether beyond her strength or her willingness. Francis could not nek her to beoomo the com panion of men who ought to be eonrlots; 1'rsnds could net possibly know nbont him; there wss no time for hor to giro warning; die htd rether dlo herself than to seo Francis the companion of auch a mau. Already aho felt dlrgniced Iu the ulr; already they wore diaggea down Into tho slime and corruption nrdperto imeli poople,-when suddenly Koso ran In saying Francis ms calling wildly on the universe to know tho exact time for the lest train, ho having lost Iris tlmo table, “Why, what Is th* matter with ynuf’ eh* cried, “ Yon look liko tho statue of a bronze Fate here in the dark 1" Wicked and trembling Un, Lottie! She knew perfectly well the time of the last train? Bnt she answered directly, at calm as sho could, take her breath > r Francis knurrs that I never had uny tlmo table." “Bnt what tlmo la It now?" cried Francis , from the don. “I don’t moan, of coarse, by my watoh or by Uy of these absurd clocks of cure, but by your real old reliable Jorgensen : that never falls. Finished writing, Outer- bridge? Here’s my-nnroe then—there's never a decent pen in this honso! Yen soo, two min utes, will make onnar.yon. If there aro forty- fattx minutes you cat moke tho train, and If there arc only forty it'i no use ut all trying, and yon may as woll stay hero—you've hceu In worso places—and bo ua.‘ ‘ part nil the love-lines of tho Ideal life of Fern* croft Hill into eclipto. r “And with that ont camo the whole story, with hot, harried, Indignant breaths nnd shak ing lips. “And I think I havo tho right to ask how n base, had, dissolute wretch liko that, who rob* hla own alstcrsand spends all the money he cu lay his hands on In hla own £ Ieararcs, came to be a friend of yobm?’ said Ira. Lonfo at tho finlah, “May I aak where yon heard nil this precious Etuirr" said Frauds gcutly. “FIcaay Venning told ns every word of HI” “I thought so. Woll, it Is an Infamous false* hood. Doyen hear mo, Iteuic? An infamous hUaheed. That woman has 'wrought more contamination under this roof lu one hoar than an army of really bad men could da In n year. Oulcrbridgo has been my friend for twentyfyeare. Wo wore In tho same class. Wo have drifted spurt In onr varying pursuits, hut when wo meet we always begin where we leltnir. I would don greit deal fur him; ha wonld de anything for mo. I never expected iny wife to he the ono to blacken hla charac ter. It is terrible, Louie. The best nnd finest fellow 1 ever met, the purest, the most ,-clf- (lenying, the most high-minded. Louie, you ought to get down on your knees to him for this."’ “I—I will,” stammered Mra. Louie before the thought, In n sudden contrition. “And don't ask that woman lu this house again. Louis ” ’ “Mm. Lonlo hung her hrsd; the fire had all gone out of her. “But—oh, Francis—If this 1* true—” ‘■Tras?” reared Francis. “Of coarse It's trno!’’ ■Then—then—don't—oh, don’t yon thlnlc wo’d better send efter him? Ho—ho csnT catch that train 1 What wa* he going to do If bo didn't catch it?' “He dr dared that he should taken team and' drive over to Evanston. But 1 don't bsllove he' will do such s foolhardy thing. His life is too precious to those girls of hie to risk It that way. But—I don’t know—ho la n wonderfhlly determined fellow—he always carries out what’ bonndntakea. Ifheehould drive—” “In that single coat, with no wrap* or hot' soapstones, and this wicked weather—It’* two below rero now 1 Oh, Fnnols, let Teddy put ; the honea right In nnd overtake him, and at any rate cany him your Mg cloak and some’ mgs, nnd If ho must go lot him have onr close 1 cnirlago’’—all In a bpsstb. “Hi no nao now, anything of tho sort Ho'a too ft t off to ho canght. Whoever drives Kitko bee to drive like the son of Klmshl, Teddy Is- off an hla holiday, besides; and Patrick's eolil Is too bed fev him to venture It. No, he's s' roan grown, and must direct himself.” ' • “Ho hnd only fifteen minutes,” said Mrs.’ Loulo under her voice. “Wbat!" cried Francis, “Wliatl Then yen and FlotBy Venning havo killed him!" They liad Indeed. That night a team “■is bam* wssn so warn am thus. they wan so white sad thin that yoa could nlmost see through them. “Mo doubt *t *11," said Francis. “To toll yon the troth, I have wondered you saver Hiked roe. I don’t knew hut I will look Into It. Tonight,youssy? Walloons* alongIstomy den sad we'll eremia* it. Hew are you going to!get Gel- Evans, thongfc, ir I do?" “(I. cully. I take the Isat train over. Th* driver—I took n back at your station—aays I hnv* time, with economy. And if I mice It, I •hall drive over.” “Dnvoover! In this weather! Twelve mites, and the road rough as cobbles. Why, it’s im- pceMble! 1 ’ “Nothing is Impassible to a man in earnest,’’ said Kirks, “slid God knows I’m fear felly in “Well, yon mustn't “11*00% Of estate, provided I here yesr signature firrt. Without that, na to.wilt oom it’s of no use to go to Evana; with it, he will •tanotol , Mgn ot once, nnd my fortune is msds,snd yuan considerably salannd. IshsUtostsfeU the details of future management s good deal •'Be irai'ciouD ron that last briatb and was cons.” “It Is too much risk of losing nil, was tho reply, In deeper tones, “ Louie, don't you bear mo?” cried French. Thera wu bnt ono idea In Mrs. Lonts’s head u she listened, bearing everything with fetal distinctness, lie htd to havo forty-fonr min utes In order to resoh his train. If ho had only forty ho would stay the night, and over 8an- ,dty, end that night too. She felt In her Infatu ation of horror that all the perfumos of Ara bia wonld not sweeten the bouu after that. Be rid of him she must, bo rid of him In any way. Who knew what degradation ho might work even upon Francis m that time! Meanwhile Francis hsd been interviewing the bookman who was threshing his arms at tba door, with sundry subdued otuurgatlont, nnd had turned Diet the train toft at tbarp. “ Did you ode me what tiros it was?" said Mra. Louie from tho distance, In th* cold vole* that, from some UtUo sxperieara, in spite of general loveliness, Francis ought to havo known boded mischief. “Watt a moment. By this watoh it is Just bslf-psrt 5. Jt Is a little slew, may ba,” Poor Mr*, l-ouial 8h* bad jnetquiokly put tba buds back thirty minute*. Hhe did not too that hardly mors degradation could have been wrought on Francis by this injurious companionship than hed already been wrought on herself by th* effort avoid it “Uslf-pssto!" cried Francis. "Well, then, If you will, you will. OK with yon! Yon can jut make it, and catch your breath. And good luck to y«ur fishing.” Tho noxt minuto tho wheels were llinndoring down tbo hill nnd into tent of toy air had ceased, and Francis wu calling har again, and sho wu drawing s long gate ot delighted relief. "Yes, be can jut make it.poor fallow,” raid Francis. And Loul* thought with great content that If b* didn’t make it be could go to the inn, nnd than was an cad of him ao far u th* Farmroft family wb» concerned. And then eho looked 'round to ee* If latum bed known anythlog of this prfried* sflato Th* poor little woman hod * grist Oral on her bezidiln looktogsatforotber i« epla’s soul*. Ur. outarbridge bad really been tent out in tba eoU by bae with exactly fifteen miouUeto do that which nqnirad f-ir- ty fe-or. A blind ecou of guilt wu Jnet be hind Mr*. Louie, end overtaking hor. Asa natural coneeqaasee, all at one* the wu vary cron, the vexation of n moment before coming again to the top. "IIow came aoch a mao a? that In our house. Franco?'' aha demanded. "Ouch a man u what? ’ uked Francis, tam ing In enrprie*. "A* Uut creature who hu Jnet gout!" “Untai bridge! Wbat ere you talking about; Why, ho is a friend or mine.” “A Diend of yean!” Aad her tone spoke not volumes merely, but oncycloocdus. “Yes, n friend of mins! And I should like SXrtmRfWdTti man, who hnd been breathing tbo bitter bluls of the rasping air firr all that time, and cough ing nnd strangling with tlio prolonged sting ing u every frozen Inhalation plowed Its way through fire, chilled now to tho marrow, and covared with tho cold sweat of bis effort for breath, dragged himself out and wont in at tho 1 opening door. How warm wu tho soft atmosphere of the wealthy home, eweet with Its spicy lire and Illuming flowers, nnd dazzlingwerotbo lights! Were these women, kind women, tho.o ftfr •bapes about him? Wore thoso walls about him, or parts of shining and receding space? - Wuthietbeend? “1 bare come," ho tried to *»y, and fell heavily forward Into tho clielr thst some one hsd wbseled to receive him. It wu Ibc end, ludeed. His mouth wu full of bleed. He straggled for that last breath, aud "Flossy Venning killed him," said Francla afterward, "with that reckless tonguo of hors, that never stooped to find tho truth or false hood of It Ml." He never uid a word of Unri’e share. “Floaty Venning killed him with a lHllc talk Just u much oa If sho bad done it with * knife I” Were They Married? The Clinton Public tolls of a young man ami H omen at Wepetla who appeared before a Justice to get married. The young nun handed th* JntUoo wbat ho thought wutbo marriage license, and tho ceremony wu proceeded with. Arriving at hem* ' tbe justice dbcorerrd that wbat ho supposed ivrt the llcenaowu limply a pedigree of a bull. Altaic *■ Mi irgz would carry blm he ran to the heals of tbs MW ly married coop!c. lhe young tody had already mired ud the young msn was to tea sat ““-laffiassR; •shade hla Intended bride good ' Igbt end went away Eommfully. The neu day be mral—to wu mao, tho ceremony wie prr- i,.:ir.<d over again, and happiness reign, In uut A Itoy'i Ritiy on Columbna. Pram the London Handard. Thn following ttory comes from* school in tho Utdlanda. Tho muter told the bora of tho third Lihstt essay on Oolomhui. Tbe fol- eat up by tn ambition? evuylii: rsaehlp,’ So be bed e il.-lp. iidun-1 o.rt iho scsin a flirtation whero ne tliansM AJUrion ought to be found. Tbo tnitore querrri'.ed oi l said they boUavtdihf ro wu no t-wh place. Hut tin r men)' ■!*>, llie pilot <-ID,-U, hlul end talri. 'Colourbut, I too lead.' 'Then that 1- America/ ? echl Columbna Whin Uioehlpaot noon the lend ; wutolloftdaok men. Oolnmbu* ■aU/Ti thi* America:' 'Yet, it It,’ Utd they. Tun he aeidr Tuipi-u-rvouare lh* trifuor 'Ye*,' they e*td , sESwsy&I a'WRBSBr • 4 c indistihct print