the  window  pane  lor  Millie  alter  tMat.  Axicotxr- 
trai>r$,  ili0iwilgtit6tifulows,gaUi6riinf  so  rapicu^', 
loldeU  the  prostrate  Uguro  that  lay  aohhlng  on  the 
sola  more  closely  in  the  mamic  ot  darkness,  and 
the  proud  cja:8  go  latclj'  scorning  tears,  were  glad 
to  glee  tuetii  vent  .it  lasu  now  that  the  friendly 
shadovra  kept  her  secret  safe.  In  an  hour  she  and 
IUte  were  to  have  gone  together  to  the  Opera  to 
hear  tho  latcat  now  star— and  ilrttiB’s  passion 
was  mual'.'.  Well,  “  she  would  not  allow  her  en¬ 
joyment  to  be  interfered  with  through  trouble 
with  Hafu  Someks,"  was  her  indignant  thought, 
“Oardy  '  would  eacort  her  or  coui’sa,  and  Rake 
might  offer  hia  services  whore  It  should  plme 
him. 
“Oardt,"  the  mlUl-eyed,  placid,  middle  aged 
gentleman  who  had  tihduldered  tlio  responsibility 
of  .MiiLiE  and  her  fortune  solely  out  of  love  for 
tho  orphan's  parents,  was  sitting  quietly  at.  rest 
with  hlssl.-'f.er  In  the  cosy  up-stalra  slltlng-room, 
and  enlojing  to  the  full  his  fragrant  Havana, 
when  tho  dlsttu'ber  of  his  peace,  flushed  and  still 
Indignant,  entered  the  room.  "Mr,  Sowers  will 
be  absent  tills  cvmilng,  Oakdy;  you  will  take  me 
to  tho  Opera  House.” 
“  Bless  my  soul !  Put  on  my  boots  and  ttikc  a 
fresh  drive  just  to  hear  Slngnor  Bawlina  or  Mad¬ 
ame  Sqcallina  upset  the  nerves  of  respectable 
people,  myself  In  the  bargain?”  exclaimed  Mr. 
Ra>i>,  with  elevated  brow's.  "And  pray  why 
must  a  quirrel  between  two  lovers  Interfere  with 
my  comfort,  Ml&s  enmsonoheoks,  oh  ?” 
Tixpostolatlon,  however,  availednothtng,and  to 
the  opera  they  went,  Milue  and  her  guardian, 
and  with  them  also  a.  gentleman  who  called  upon 
JltLLiE  Just  »8  they  were  leaving  tho  house,  and 
at  hor  Invitation  entered  the  house  with  them. 
And  what  of  Raff.  so>rKR.s  meanwhile  ?  He,  too, 
roraemberod  the  oficra,  and,  notwithstanding  his 
sore  heaiT,  he  would  attend  It,  as  he  knew  Milue 
would,  and  she  should  sec  as  much  composuro  on 
bis  part  as  on  hoi’s.  Very  aiily,  no  doubt,  all  his 
pi1de  and  obstinacy,  but  quite  the  fashion  when 
lovera  arc  silly  enough  to  quarrel.  And  Milue 
and  Rape  were  like  all  the  rest  of  mankind  or 
■womankind.  What  right  had  she  to  go  where  she 
was  not  willing  her  betrothed  should  discover 
her  ?  And  yet  he  hod  set-'n  her  several  times  con¬ 
versing  with  a  strange  gentleman  on  tho  steps  of 
a  strange,  bouse  in  an  unlrequentod  part  of  tho 
city.  Aye,  worse,  ho  had  seen  milue  uawkino- 
TON  enter  tho  art  rooms  or  »TR.\ua'  on  Broadway, 
in  company  with  that  same  mtin.  And  ho  had 
been  too  fm-  off  to  speak  or  attract  her  attention, 
and  It  was  doubtful,  ho  fancied,  If  she  would  ha  ve 
recognized  him  willingly  if  he  had  been  ue«r 
enough  for  that  purpose.  He  considered  that  hla 
betrothal  with  Miss  IlABiiiEOTON  gave  him  every 
right  to  her  confldnnce,  and  yet  this  one  thing  8b« 
withheld  from  him,  for  no  amount  of  argument 
would  compel  her  to  fleal  frankly  with  him. 
"No,  Kafb,"  sho  would  answer,  “i  do  not 
que.stlon  you.  and  you  must  not  question  mo. 
some  day  I  think  you’ll  be  ashamed  of  yourself, 
bia  until  then  I  am  iwhamed  lor  you  I"  And  that 
■wa-s  all  he  could  gel  trom  the  haughty  lady  love 
he  womhlpped  so  ti'uly'.  But  that  .Mn.tiB  had 
loved  him,  ho  felt  sure,  and  recalled  her  many 
acta  of  fondorneaa  and  love  with  such  a  ivcary 
pain  In  his  heart,  as  almost,  to  bring  tears  to  the 
proud  blue  eyoa,  unmanly  tho’  lb  might  be.  Bnt 
he  had  said  that  “  If  he  loft  hor  in  auger  he  would 
never  return,"  and  nothing  should  cause  blm  to 
retract  his  word.  So  ho  dresaeil  for  the  opera  and 
sat  all  the  evening  before  Miliae’s  box,  growing 
more  and  more  Jealous  as  he  watched  tho  boautl- 
Hil  face  and  noticed  her  kindly  manner  Iowa  rri  the 
stranger  who  eat  beside  her.  Millie  did  not  full 
to  see  him,  although  never  had  she  seemed  so  care¬ 
less  and  Ilgbt-heahod.  "  Utterly  hourtlosa  I"  de¬ 
cided  Rape,  Indignantly,  while  Millie  knew  hor- 
seit  to  bo  more  wretched  and  elck  of  heart  t-hag 
ever  boforo  In  her  young  life. 
So  the  evening  wore  on,  and  when  fJie  curtain 
fell  for  the  last,  time  Millie  gladly  arose  and  left 
the  house,  only  longing  for  thesoUtudeof  her  own 
room  and  the  relief  of  tears.  Day's  passed.  Mr. 
Rand  questioned  his  ward  as  to  tho  cause  of  the 
misunderstanding  between  herself  and  Rape. 
But.  to  his  surprise,  she  refnned  to  explain,  and 
retired  behind  that  hauglitlness  sho  could  don  so 
well,  until  oven  her  loved  guardian  was  awed  into 
THE  OLD  MAN’S  GREETING, 
Bllonco.  "  He  couldn’t  pretend  to  follow  all  Mil¬ 
lie's  queer  whims,”  was  his  reply  when  the  dear 
old  sister,  who  played  tho  role  of  propriety  and 
matronlzed  tho  small  family,  e.xii08tuliitcd  with 
him  for  alloiving  tho  girl  so  much  liberty.  “Let 
her  uloue,  my  dear,”  he  would  reply;  "the  child 
Is  well  enough  H  you  don’t  vex  her.  And  bless 
me!  U  I  know  what  to  do  when  she  lifts  that 
grand  head  of  hera  and  looks  at  me  as  If  sho  wero 
tho  queen  and  I  a  refra.otory  subject.” 
Bo  -Millie  wtus  allowed  to  have  hor  own  way, 
and  after  one  more  mysterious  visit  to  the  strange 
hoiLso  she  ceased  to  offend  In  that  way,  and  went 
out  accompanied  only  by  her  guardian's  slstor. 
New  Year’s  day  was  lUawlng  near,  and  Raps 
So.uKHa  dreaded  It  for  the  Best  time  filnco  his  ilrst 
c-xporlcnce  of  that  day’s  pleastu-c.  He  had  .spent 
the  last  New  Year’.s  day  mostly  with  Millie,  ro- 
tumlng  to  her  .side  from  hJs  nmnonjus  calls,  and 
gladdening  lii'.art  and  eyes  iMtli  her  presenoe  for 
a  happy  time  boforo  starting  on  unother  round  of 
culls,  which  propriety  domandecl  ho  should  make. 
And  he  know  just  how  she  would  look  t  lil.i  llmo. 
Like  a  yotuigqueon  in  her  royal  robes,  receiving 
gracloualy  hor  subjocta,  and  dlspeuslug  her  sweet 
smiles  alike  to  each  who  were  privileged  to  coll 
upon  her.  And  he- the  once  dearly  loved  friend 
and  betrothed— ho  who  ha/l  received  tlio  secret 
preRsuro  of  her  small  hand,  and  rend  Ids  own 
Ewcot  wclcomo  III  her  dark  eyes— nntsi.  remain 
outside  of  her  presence  fon,!ver  more,  .and  sec  her 
ohly  In  hl8  dreams.  No  words  could  tell  how  ho 
longed  to  go  again  to  her  side  and  fold  lus  arms 
about  hor.  But  “  no  woman  shall  make  a  fool  of 
Rape  SosiebsI"  his  llp.s  had  s;ild,  dellantly.  jVnd 
should  he  humble  hlmscif  after  all  'i— not  ho  i  Bo 
ho  boro  tbp  cruel  palu  which  fed  on  hlsheart  each 
day,  nor  droamod  that  evmi  prldo  could  not  quite 
conceal  his  grief  from  cuilous  oyea.  There  wore 
whispers  among  mutual  O’londri  concerning  tho 
broken  ongagemoni.  Tho.  pledge  of  betrothal  was 
missing  from  Millie's  whlta  nngor.  And  from 
RAFK’schaln  the  Uitle  golden  ctrclnt  hla  clmusy 
linger  could  not  squeeze  through,  had  suddenly 
departed.  But  no  tongue  daroii  question  either 
the  lady  or  gentlemen  of  the  matter,  and  tvider 
and  wider  in  silence  grow  the  gulf 
between  tho  two  Ucai’ls. 
- — -  ChrL-itin'isDay  had  passed.  Mil¬ 
lie’s  presents  as  usual  from  friends 
and  admirers,  were  muncrous  and 
beautiful.  But  aho  missed  one 
whoso  love  had  never  failed  hei-  at 
•  I  this  season,  and  grew  wcai’y  ore 
half  the  bright  day  had  gono. 
Rape,  for  something  hotter  to  do, 
ho  said  to  himself,  wont  about  tho 
streets  and  liuntcd  up  forlorn  lltllo 
beggars,  glaridcning  their  halt- 
frozen  he.'u'lk  wli.li  some  toy  or 
I  cake  or mscful article,  longing  with 
heart  and  soul  iiie.anwnilc,thathe 
might  dare  send  somet  h  I  ng  to  Mil¬ 
lie,  even  though  his  name  were 
withheld.  But  tho  day  iillppoU 
away  and  the  gulf  of  grief  and 
pride  had  narrowed  not  one  whit. 
Not  one  word  had  passed  be¬ 
tween  tho  two,  oven  of  recogni¬ 
tion,  since  tho  last  angry  words  of 
their  parting,  and  Rape  had  ro- 
trained  trom  passing  the  house 
lest  It  should  bo  more  than  ho 
"  could  bear  If  her  face  wero  sech  at 
vp_^_  _  tho  window  pane.  But  two  days 
--  -  ^  ^  after  Christmas  some  impiUsc  be¬ 
ll  yond  hl.s  powers  or  rcristauce  led 
1)  _l'  ;■  1  him  by  the  house  which  held  all 
BT  .JOY  ALLISON 
So  yc  are  nack.  Old  Winter  1 
Beckon  there's  something  wrong, 
For  I  aint  so  gud  to  see  yo 
As  when  l  was  young  and  strong. 
Ye  see  I’m  gettln’  on  In  years— 
8  iff  in  the  j’lnts  and  slow  : 
Blood  don’t  h'lip  so  lively 
As  forty  year  ago. 
Twinges  o’  pain  beset  me, 
Tetches  o’  rUuumatls— 
They  say  I  must  expect  such  things, 
I  don’t  know  how  that  is. 
But  I  like  my  no  'k  by  tho  fircsldo, 
And  mv  pipe,  auu  my  easy  chair,— 
And  I’m  bLkI  to  think  o’  tho  ccUur 
Where  there’.s  food  enough  and  to  spare. 
And  I'm  glad  to  think  o’  the  wood-house 
Where  the  fuel  is  piled  se  high. 
And  the  mows  of  hay  for  foe  cattle,— 
’Tla  well  tho  baru  Is  nigh. 
There’s  ooth-n’  lackin'  for  comfort,— 
I’ye  looked  out  for  ye,  in  mv  phin ! 
For  my  dear  oM  wife  will  tell  yo 
I  was  alius  a  torch  inded  man. 
But  In  iny  day  Tve  seen  enough 
O’  storms:— and  I’m  #lad  to  know 
In  the  laud  to  which  I’m  h'astening 
Will  bo  neither  cold  nor  snow. 
THE  NEW  YEAR’S  GIFTS. 
BY  MARY  D.  BRINE 
“Ip  I  go,  Millie  Haiibtnoton,  do  not  look  In 
me  for  any  such  wea, knes-ses  as  have  been  ere  this 
exhibited  by  your  prcMous  score 
of  admirers.  T,  .at  least,  have  tho 
will  and  ability  to  abide  by  my  de¬ 
cision. 
No  woman  on  earth  can  j 
make  a  fool  of  Rape  Somerb!" 
Millie  raised  her  head  with  Icy 
haired.  “It  yon  go?  Pray,  sir,  j 
do  not  trouble  yourself  to  decide  y 
yes  or  no  in  so  small  a  matter. 
Allow  me  to  decide  for  you,”  cros.’i- 
Ing  the  room  and  touching  tlie  boll  \ 
with  slcady  liand.  “John,  Mr.  ^ 
SoMEits  desires  his  hat  and  over-  ^ 
coal;  have  them  at  his  service 
Immediately.”  ^ 
The  man  withdrew,  tnwa  rdiy  de¬ 
ciding  that  “there  was  somethin’ 
up  ’tween  mls-s  -and  her  handsome 
lover,  k.'LSC  ho  hadn't  seen  sU;h  high 
and  lofty  Iwks  afore,  he  know,” 
Meanwhile  P.afe  and  Millik 
stood  before  each  other  proudly 
deflant,  betraying  nothing  of  the  , 
emotion  which,  t  rutli  to  tel  1,  forced  1- 
each  heart  to  quiver  with  pain. 
Never  had  Millie  looked  so  bean-  - 
ttful.  thought  Rai’e,  and  never  had  J 
he  cared  tor  her  more  than  at  th.at 
moment  of  ttnal  parting.  Indlg- 
nation  had  flushed  her  usually  pale  ii 
face  and  given  a  sparkle  to  tho  /g 
dark  eyesthat  only incronsed their  to 
beauty.  She  had  di'kwnbor  stately 
Ilguro  to  Its  full  hlgUt,  and  Rape  jJJ 
had  never  seen  his  betrothed  so  i|k 
regally  aitracUve  before.  He  had  m 
no  Idea  that  his  own  face  a  ppealw  1  j  W 
aa  strongly  to  her  heart  as  hers 
h.adtohlsown.  But  she  saw,  with  m 
her  quick  woman’s  heart  and  eyes,  Ih 
how  noble  a  specimen  of  manhood  a* 
her  own  words  had  dismissed  from 
her  side  forever.  01  tender  blue 
eyes,  that  had  questioned  her  dark  f  t 
ones  so  many,  many  times  1  oi 
proud  aud  manly  heart  that  had 
laid  Itself  at  her  dainty  feet  so  long  v 
ago  and  worshipped  tUl  her  own 
had  stoopetl  to  meet  Its  love.  What 
ol  the  days,  weeks,  months,  and 
years  to  come,  with  only  sCcnco 
between  the  two!  But  pride  was 
busy  'witli  iw  small  though  deadly 
venom,  and  Into  each  heart  tho 
poison  sank  deeply  while,  with 
mute  Ups  and  flushed  faces,  the 
two  who  had  been  lovers  turned 
apart  fi'om  each  othei’  as  the  serv¬ 
ant  entered,  and  bowed  a  last 
adieu. 
Rafe,  while  putting  on  hLs  over¬ 
coat  In  the  haU,  caught  tho  light 
humming  of  the  opei’a  ah'  which 
escaped  Milub  s  Ups  for  that  very 
purpose.  “Cry  before  he  had  left 
tho  house?”  said  she  to  her  griev¬ 
ing  heart;  “never  I  he  must  learn 
that  awoman  can  scorn  weakness 
as  weU  aa  the  other  sex,  and  I’m 
weary  and  worn  out  with  his  un¬ 
just  questioning  of  my  wiU!”  Then 
Millie  walked  to  tUe  window  and 
drummed  on  the  panes  with  as¬ 
sumed  carelessness  until  Rape, 
stung  to  the  quick  with  her  heart- 
lessnesw,  slammed  the  door  and 
rushed  down  the  stoop  and  .out  of 
Bight  in  the  darkness. 
No  more  humming  of  opera  airs 
then— no  more  Idle  drumming  on 
W' 
•J 
m 
