"Well it's all right then course; if Mrs. Gray says so we can certainly take her assurance as positive evidence that we were both fooled; but I wouldn't believe anybody but her."

Harvey walked up the street slowly his mind busy with puzzled ruminations.

Though his Own mind was satisfied and the hearty and sincere acquiesence of the proprietor in the certainty of mistake left no possible chance of disagreeable misunderstanding or complications for Helen, yet the slight tinge of mystery connected with the affair was distasteful to his sensitive consciousness. wished that the other had not chanced to make the mistake in regard to Helen's identity.

He

The affair of of the robbery afforded little material for conjecture upon which to work and though the detective took the matter in hand little hope could be entertained for the restoration of the jewel.

The only active measure commending itself-that of setting a watch at the pawn shops-was carried out, though the conspicuous size and brilliancy of the gem rendered it improbable that the dullest of thieves should seek to dispose of it by this method within the limits of the city.

Helen after the first excitement

There was a second great disappointment connected with the event of the robbery which in fact seemed of as much importance as the loss of the diamond. Harvey who was dealing in real estate had sold for a neat sum a piece of property which had before been purchased in Helen's name; and out of this small personal fortune she had promised herself the pleasure of celebrating Harvey's coming birthday with a gift which should approach in value and preciousness something like the remembrance that had been her own.

The fate of the latter, however, had made her dubious as to extravagance which might result in a like experience, and she in fact had half determined to sacrifice the cherished desire to her discretion.

As the natal day drew near, however, the yearning returned with renewed intensity and Helen still irresolute essayed to gain comfort and decision by a confidence of her dilemma expressed in parables to Harvey. That person of penetration gaining. swift intention of the pleasure promised Helen by the indulgence with characteristic playful stub

bornness insisted upon claiming the fruits of her intention; and on the day in question accompanied her to the scene of their former purchase with an assumed air of importance and swagger which convulsed Helen to the extent of endangering the sensitiveness of the clerk waiting on them, who was not in the secret of the quietly executed eccentricities of manner whose ridiculous unnaturalness was forcing Helen's unwilling amusement.

a

Their mutual choice was diamond scarf-pin, the jewel being the twin almost in lustre and size of the one which had been in Helen's possession.

"I shan't wear this," said Harvey exasperatingly to Helen after the purchase was completed; "but it will do to keep in the house as a charm against burglars."

As Harvey's enjoyment of extravagance and display was limited entirely to Helen's indulgence in it, this threat for a time was carried into literal effect, and it became Helen's task again to devise

methods of protection against the still flourishing attempts of the housebreakers.

This was worse than the former trial, as Harvey's business kept him as a usual thing now late at the office and his absence was the occasion of added anxiety.

It had been a rainy day but the clouds toward nightfall rolled off to the west assisting at the gorgeous transformation scenes of the sunset and then fading out to give chance to the climax of

moonlight whose crowning halo was later to envelop the earth.

It was quite dark after their supper at the hotel and Harvey walked down to the office with Helen's anxiously repeated warnings in his ears, her fears being equally divided between the house thieves who might attempt to get the jewel and the footpads who made the public streets dangerous for the business men trusting themselves to the thoroughfares after nightfall. Harvey wrote in the office until ten o'clock then locked up and went down the narrow staircase into the street.

As he stepped out of the entry on to the sidewalk his careless glance turning westward caught sight of a familiar figure walking rapidly towards the corner. For an instant Harvey held his breath. It was Helen's figure Helen's step and he could almost declare her familiar wrap and bonnet; yet the memory of his former deception held him in uncertainty.

He went forward a few steps then stood still looking after the retreating figure. She had reached the opposite sidewalk and the light from the street lamp under which she was passing brought into clear distinctiveness the familiar outline of figure and cos

tume.

There could be no doubt this time. It was Helen. Harvey turned swiftly and followed her. As he started across the street he saw a man advance from the shadow of the trees near the

creek and come towards Helen. As he joined her the light fell upon him showing his face and figure quite distinctly.

Her companion was the strikingly handsome and aristocratic individual whom they had dubbed "the marquis."

For a moment the husband's heart stopped beating. Then with a blind impulse of grief and rage he hurried after them.

Before he could overtake them they had reached the board fence enclosing the sidewalk outside the unfinished Board of Trade building. They paused here and entering the open gate leading into the enclosure stood close in the shadow of the fence engaged in earnest conversation.

It was the man who carried on

talk principally, however, Helen herself replying only in low monosyllables. Harvey was about to rush forward rush forward blindly when some of the man's words reaching his ears impelled him to pause. He stood breathlessly outside looking through the narrow aperture near him upon the couple within. Helen's back was towards him but the man was facing him, his handsome features outlined distinctly in the moonlight. His eyes were fixed earnestly upon Helen and his tones low but distinct reached Harvey plainly from the enclosure. "Did you mention to

that you

anyone to

were coming out

night?" he questioned.

Helen made a low response which Harvey did not catch.

"That is all. You may return home."

As the two came through the gate Harvey's enraged blow fell upon the scoundrel's face, striking him senseless upon the ground. As he fell Helen uttered a strange cry, and the next instant was clinging to Harvey, her breath coming in deep, frightened sobs.

"Harvey, what does this mean; what has happened?"

Her tone and manner were those of one who had been newly awakened from sleep.

Harvey's heart gave a great throb of relief and thankfulness.

They confirmed the conviction which had come to him like a burst of heavenly light after the

darkness of those terrible moments of doubt and misery.

(TO BE CONcluded.)

CARRIE ALLEN.

Mother, you need not weep that I am dying, Life has no gladness, death no gloom for me; Mark ye, how calmly heaven's light is lying On the green lawn and budding maple tree.

Even thus it shone long years ago, when sad

ness

Was yet a stranger to our homestead hearth, When through the moonlit garden walks in gladness,

We children sped with merry sounds of mirth.

But we are changed, and though we yet may wander

Through the same walks, amid the selfsame flowers,

We only sigh, or weep and sadly ponder
On the lost lustre of those trustful hours.

Look where the breeze my lilac bush is bending Beneath the window, while its fragrant breath, Even as it blessed my birth, and bridal morn, Lends its rare perfume to the night of death.

My bridal morn-alas! the painful fading, Of all the hopes that crowned my brow and heart,

Alas for love, life's toils and trials aiding,
Love that should last-till death your souls do
part.

Mother, I thought a higher, holier meaning,
Was in that vow, a deep, eternal power;

I've learned man's love can die; change past redeeming,

And fade and wither, like an organge flower.

Tell him how much they longed to speak farewell

Tell him they blessed him, with their latest breath.

The shadows thicken, part, and trembling waver, Mid gleams of light, and white robes floating by.

The only perfect peace I ever knew,
Was sent from heaven-why should I fear to
die?
Millicent.

ANDREW DOYLE'S CHRISTMAS EVE. (CONCLUDED FROM 163.)

"I say old chap, you don't seem to have got over your admiration for that pretty face. If you think every one of the boys are not watching what's going on you are mistaken," and Jim passed along leaving Andrew wild with rage. Then had he allowed his eyes to travel over to Nellie Hunt so often that even dull Jim Willis had noted and was commenting upon it all over the hall. With a determined compression of the lips he again sought Nell's merry, black eyes, and together they waltzed and flirted. To be sure, he could no more avoid looking for the face and form of Nellie Hunt than he could have refrained from drinking water if he were athirst and near a fountain. evening was nearly over, and he fancied as he moved across in a change of a quadrille and met the hands of the girl who had so cruelly treated him that the liquid blue eyes looked up into his own scowling black ones with a sort of pleading sorrow in their glances. But he never spoke, and she turned away her head, hiding

The

the quiver of her lip, with a merry smile to her next partner.

As the party broke up Andrew stood near the door, buttoning his coat, and Ben Johnson came to him with, so Andrew fancied, a sort of an angry look in his eyes. "I say, Andrew, we've got to take Mrs. Foster and her sick daughter back home in the bob sled, and we want to know which of the boys or girls you will take back in your cutter, for we must get one in there if possible."

he

"Send Nell along then," answered indifferently, "it makes but little difference to me," and he went out to untie his horse, for little he cared to ride home with anyone, especially one whom he would have to entertain. Let Nell come, she could talk for both of them, and he could attend to his spirited horse without any interference.

He had hard work to hold his horse; the air was keen, and the animal knew home was at the end of his nose. So he said nothing to Nell as she stepped into the sleigh; indeed he was obliged, albeit not unwillingly, to let her arrange her own wraps, so restive was Billy.

With low spoken words of quiet command, he kept the horse from taking the bit between his teeth, but the evident danger they were in of a tip out into the snow quieted his volatile companion, and there was complete silence in the small sleigh.

At last, however, the horse was controlled, and he turned in

shamed remorse to ask his companion if she was all right.

"Oh yes," replied a soft voice from out the furs around her neck. "Have you enjoyed yourself?" the conventional question would do as well as anything to make talk, and he was considerably surprised surprised to hear only a low almost inaudible affirmative from the merry-tongued girl he had so assiduously flirted with all the evening.

"What is the matter, Nell? Are you cold?" and as he put out his hand to touch the hand of his companion, she shrank with evident distrust or dislike, and made no reply to his question.

"What on earth is the matter, Nell. I don't know what has come over you. Here, let me see your face; there's something the matter, and I am going to know what it is. Turn around, I tell you, and let me see." Here he took the law into his own hands, and turned the face full toward himself, drawing away the mufflers as he spoke.

"Good heavens!" he exclaimed in anguished surprise, "it's Nellie

Nellie" He could not speak her married name, it would choke him."

"Yes," said the girl proudly, "it's Nell."

"What are you doing here? How dare you do such a thing? Do you think I am as cold as this snow out here? Do you think because I am or try to be a good man, that I have no heart in my bosom, no fire in my soul? What