“Now,  Ihon,  rvi*  caught  him  this  time.  Suppose 
hn  imnscnts - ’’ 
'I'he  chbl tig  color  on  her  chocks,  tlio  fpilverlng 
ofliw  pretty  mouth,  was  lunitlc  evldonce  of  the 
state  t)t  her  tcnllngs;  and  she  opened  the  scaled 
envoloiie  as  one.  docs  a  telegram-  trying  to  assure 
lino’s  self  notliUig  Is  ntnlss.  and  yet  leollng  It  nec¬ 
essary  to  lie  prepared  for  i  ho  worst! 
“  I'ermit  the  ' liotiUcMuan  In  the  Seal-aklii  Cap’ 
to  olTer  a  wind  of  eoun.sel  In  the  ‘  1. inly  Admirer’ 
—that,  In  fill  lire,  w  ill'll  she  learns  to  dlstlngnli-h 
hetweeri  a  gent  Icm.in  and  ii  seiitnii,  and  w  hen  Mie 
returns  home— which  had  bolter  tie  at.  oriee— she 
eunresses  her  Impriidenee  to  her  mother.” 
Jes.slo  gavo  a  little  e.ry  of  dellglit. 
“  Itlch,  my  own  true  Uleh." 
want  of  sister  Florrle?  1  shall  not  he  lonely  at 
all.” 
“  Brave  litt  le  woman !  kls.s  mo  good-night  then, 
dear.” 
llo  was  so  kind  and  thoughtful;  and  Jessie’s 
fond,  foolish  heart  almost  misgave  her  as  she 
watched  him  off. 
"Ills  downright  wleked  to  distrust  him;  hut 
then,  It  is  lust  these  elegant,  tasclnatliig  men  wlio 
are  so  agreenlile  to  other  women  heslde  Iheir 
^vives— at  Ica-st  Miss  Jerusha  says  so,  and  sho's 
old  cuongh  In  know.” 
She  watchetl  the  Ivory  hands  of  the  cuckoo  eloek 
hastening  toward  T.au. 
“Well.  I  shall  do  It— this  once,  anyhow.” 
And  she  went  to  her  room  with  sparkling  eyes 
and  glowing  checks. 
•WINTER  AND  SPRING 
BY  BUNE  BLUFF. 
“  I  AM  old ;  it  is  time  for  mo  to  tfo,” 
SiKheil  Winter,  lad  his  steps  were  alow. 
And  ho  stopped  to  rest  near  a  bank  of  .sjunw 
Along  Uie  sunny  hills  was  soen 
Bright  Spring.  In  mho  of  fairy  groon. 
With  its  shiftuig  lights  and  satin  sheen. 
She  hntlened  forwanl  to  Iho  place. 
A  golden  halo  of  tender  grace 
Shining  alxml  her  lovely  fare. 
Over  him  bending  gently  there, 
With  her  hands  ho  full  of  snow-drops  fair. 
She  sciitU-rcd  thorn  in  his  hoary  hair. 
She  beckoned  a  robin  with  ruddy  breast. 
And  whispered,  "  O  birdie,  sing  your  beat. 
And  lull  the  tired  old  man  to  re«t.” 
depot,  nnd,)UHtii.s  Wlntrlahiiin  arose  to  Inive  tho 
ear,  he  felt  a  timid  touch  of  lingers  on  his  coal 
.sleeve. 
“  ricase  pardon  me— hut— hut  there  Is  a  ferry- 
hoiit  to  cross  in-lsn't  there?  and  If  .von  would  he 
so  kind  as  to  tell  which  way  it  l.s  to  the  St.  Julian 
Hotel?” 
Kiel!  hutUined  up  hl.s  overcoat  dollberatftly  while 
she  .spoke. 
“The  St.  Julian?  I  am  going  there  myself, 
madam.  11  you  are  umieeompiUded,  I  will  see 
you  there.  This  way  please.” 
At  last !  Jessie’s  ehcelcs  were  as  hot  as  lire  now, 
and  her eye.s bright  u.s»tnrs.asaho  tvalked  through 
the  long  depot  and  lerry-houso  hr'sUle  her  lius- 
haiid.-  In  ibd  ladles’ cabin  Uleh  gave  her  a  seal  , 
(hen  lelL  her  to  join  a.  group  of  gentlemen  who 
wi're  conversing  near  the  door,  uud  at  tlui  Now 
A'lirk  flock  he  escort  ed  lier  to  a.  St.  .lullan  iransfer 
coach,  much  as  If  she  hiul  been  a  child  in  his 
idiargu,  whom  he  was  hound  to  do  his  duty  hy, 
and  yet  considered  somewhat  of  a  nuisance.  As 
It  happened,  the  coach  had  other  passengers,  so 
that  the  hot  color  had  time  to  die  f rum  out  Jes¬ 
sie's  taco,  ah  hough  shemeiiUlly  rcgardfsl  him  "a 
darling,  provoking  lellow.” 
The  dinner-table  was  In  rcHdlnes.s.  Dcllclously- 
suggcsl  I  vc  Odin'S  of  t.iirtle-soap  and  egg-plant  came 
from  the  regions  where  Jessie  Wlulrlnliam’s  In- 
eomparable  cook  reigned  supreme;  and  In  the  lace 
and  damask-draped  hay  window  Mrs.  Wlntrln- 
liaia  waited  for  her  hnsbiuid’s  coming  home,  with 
her  sweet  face  all  sunny  welcome,  that  made  Idm 
feel  wliat  a  hoimy  darling  she  Wfi.s  a.s  ho  kissed 
her  before  even  ho  removed  his  seal-skin  cap. 
“And  how  have  you  got  along,  Jessie?  Were 
you  lonely  last  night?” 
.She  blushed  a  llltle  as  she  helped  him  off  with 
his  overcoat. 
“  No,  not  at  all.  1  iidoed,  I’ve  had  an  unusual 
duo  time.” 
*' That's  good.  Had  any  company  7” 
“Yes;  Klo  and  her  lover  were  here  to  lunch 
this  noon.  Klch,  1  tlilnk  Mr.  .Addison  Is  just  per- 
foetly  siileiidld.” 
lie  irowiu’d  In  protended  horror. 
“  You  think  Flo's  iwau  perfectly  splendid  I  Very 
well,  Ml'S.  Wlulrluham,  if  yrju  wish  mo  to  be  Jeal¬ 
ous.” 
“  If  that  makes  you  Jealous,  what  will  you  say 
when  I  tell  you  l  have  had  a  letUu'  from  a  gentle¬ 
man  since  you’ve  bi'cn  gone— a  handsomer  man 
than  oven  Mr.  Addison." 
Jcasle  watched  him  closely,  her  eyes  beginning 
to  dim  or  not  lar-dislant  tears. 
“  You  did !  I  dare  say  1  can  see  It?” 
lie  was  smiling  very  little,  as  a  distrustful  hus¬ 
band  would  do. 
Jessie  slipped  a  liair-sheet  of  paper  from  her 
pocket  anil  gavo  it  to  1dm,  her  lip  half  tremhllug, 
yet  lialt  smiling,  lie  openeil  It  carelessly,  then 
looked  at  lier  hi  amazement.  • 
“Wliy,  what  on  earth,  Jessie?  Why,  I  wrote 
this  letter.” 
“  Yes,  1  know  yon  did— t),  Klch  I” 
She  was  almost  ;cryliig  now,  and  her  liiisbaud 
was  looking  so  gravely  at  her.  She  pointed  to  a 
iiavy-hluo  waleriiroot  and  brown  veil  lying  ucrots 
a  elialr. 
“  It  WiiK  I,  Klch.  I  knew  it  was  awfully  wicked, 
Miss  Jerusha  Jbnkinson  folded  her  napkin 
with  slow,  precise  carefulness,  and  thf'ii  tollowed 
her  pretty  little  hostess  from  the  dining-room 
back  to  the  parlor,  where  the  soft  astral  lamp 
glowf '1  Uko  a  sliver  moon,  and  tho  Uliunlnatod 
stove  made  red  ahmlows  on  the  brown-red  ea-sy 
chair  hi  which  Miss  Jenkinson  ensconced  herst'lf. 
“  I  really  don’t  know  what  to  do  about  It,  M1s.h 
Jerusha.  It  I  once  thought  Klcli  was  guilty  ol 
such  indiscretions  as  you  declaro  ho  Is,  l  do  be¬ 
lieve  I  should— die!” 
Jessie  Wlntrluham  winked  away  a  suspicious 
hrlghtnes.s  from  her  pretty  curling  brown  lashers, 
and  looked  eagerly  at  her  gue.st’s  sarcastic  eoun- 
tenanco. 
“  I  dare  a.ay  there  are  a  great  many  people  who 
would  say  l  was  very  oniclous,  my  dear,  because 
I  tell  you  what  1  think  of  that  good-looking  hus¬ 
band  of  yours.  But.  1  feel  1  have  your  Interest  at 
heart  and  If  no  one  else  has  (he  eouraga  and 
charily  to  iioint  out  tn  a  wife  of  half  a  year  the. 
goings  fin  of  her  husband— why,  my  dear  Mrs. 
Wlntrlnhani,  I’ll  staudhyyou  and  Uikeyonrpart.” 
Her  solemn  wonls  made  little  shivers  of  vaguci 
terror  thrill  all  over  Jessie. 
“  1  flare  say  you  arc  kind  Indeed,  Mls.s  Jcrush.i,, 
only  I  can't  believe  that  Klch  Is  such  allli't  as  you 
v—rvl wavs  navi ng  such  e.xcluslve  attention  to 
“  If  you  please,  sir,  an  answer  is  wanted.” 
one  of  the  waiters  at  the  St.  Julian  handed  a 
tiny  notelet  to  Mr.  M  lntrlnliam  Just  after  that 
gentleman  had  Inspected  the  iirrangemenls  nf  his 
room  aiKl  w.as  settled  down  for  a  half  hour’s  ex¬ 
amination  of  sundry  papers  In  Ids  memorandum 
botjk. 
“An  answer— a  hdter  for?— o,  yes,  rrom  Ned 
llathaw.ay,  about  the  .shares —  ” 
Ills  eyes  opomal  widely  as  Im  carole.ssly  tort;  It 
open  to  Ural,  not  a  hu.slncss  commnnieatlon  from 
Ned  Hatha  way,  hut  a  dainty  little  note,  In  a  grace¬ 
ful  dowliig  liaek  liand : 
“Tolhegcntlemau  In  the  Seal-skliv  Hap:— Yon 
made  me  desire  to  see  you  again.  Is  there  not 
1  lino  t  o  attend  the  theater  ? 
"  VOUII  I,AIJV  Ad.mikek.” 
Klch  drew  a  long  hrcatli  of  surprise. 
“.So  that’s  the  little  game, Is  it?” 
'I’hen  he  rapidly  wrotean  answer  a  nddl.spalnhefl 
Ithy  the  man,  who  grlnneil  knowingly  as  he  re- 
eelved  a  twenty-live  cent  8t.i.mp  from  Joaslo’s 
trembling  lingers. 
husband;  and  as  always  such  passtouate 
affection  is  accompanied  by  Jealousy,  this 
otherwise  sensible  uiilc  woman  found  It  no 
dlClcult  matter  to  entei'tatu  the  doubt  her 
guest  expressed. 
Rich  was  so  handsome,  so  stylish,  so  gal¬ 
lant— why  should  not  ladles  enjoy  his  atten¬ 
tions?  And.  slttlngby  the  cosy  lire,  waiting 
until  her  hmshand  should  come  In  for  his 
dinner,  Jessie  almo.st  decided  to  fday  the 
spy  upon  him  at  rhe  earliest  moment. 
Then,  when  she  heard  hla  latch-key  In  the 
door  and  hts  fiulek,  ilrm  tread  In  the  hall, 
and  saw  hls  handsome,  cheerful  lace  as  ho 
took  her  checks  in  hls  liands  to  kiss  her,  she 
felt  ashamed  and  confused. 
“  1  am  atratd  1  shall  have  to  hurry  you, 
dear,”  ho  said,  Uul’.lng  her  arm  through  hls 
and  leading  the  way  Ht  tho  dlulng-roora 
where  the  bright  light  made  a  genial  glow 
on  silver,  crystal,  and  snow-whU-e  china.” 
“llui'ry  me  Klch -how?" 
“  I  have  to  Hike  the  T.ao  train  very  imex- 
pectedly  for  the  city  on  Import  ant  lmslues.s 
that  cannot  he  delayed-  I  shall  bo  at  homo 
to-morrow  ulghU  I  expect.  Jessie,  will  you 
have  another  piece  of  the  black  meat?” 
Mi's.  WluLrlnhara  Hjyed  with  her  chicken, 
her  appeute  entirely  destroyed  hy  the  news 
Rich  announced. 
“  On  impoi’Uuit  husluess.”  Yes,  that  was 
what  Miss  Jeuklnsan  had  said.  And  the 
night  train,  too !  It  ita.shed  hotly  across  J es- 
sle’srnlnd  that  her  husband  was  going  down 
to  the  theater  and,  if  what  Miss  J erusha  had 
said  was  true,  not  alone. 
Thai  second  decided  her ;  and,  as  Mr.  Wln- 
trlnham  arose  from  the  dinner  table,  he 
The  solemn  A  iiflroscoggln  hell  wa.s  ring¬ 
ing  the  mill  girls  In  by  broad  siinllghi  one 
noon,  when  there  came  a  knock  at  tho  door, 
and  behind  ll,  the  young  lady  oi  whom  1 
hoard.  l)eh  was  .stai'Mcd  by  the  knock  and 
frIgliLcuod  hy  Uie  young  lady.  It  was  not 
ofion  that  visitors  came  to  Brick  Alley,  and 
Jtw.is  still  less  oftener  that  Bi'li:k  .AlUiy  had 
a  visitor  who  knockofl. 
This  was  a.  young  lady  for  whom  fieh’s 
motliei'  did  line  washing.  Iieh’s  mol  her 
wiped  her  liuiid.s  and  placed  a  chair  and  the 
young  lady  H.it  down.  She  was  a  straight 
holy,  with  strong  feet,  and  long,  brown 
feiither.s  III  her  hat  and  soil,  brown  gloves 
upon  her  hand,  she  inul  come,  she  said, 
with  that  Hlnuy  set,  which  she  Hmnd  she 
should  need  lor  a  parly  this  very  night;  In¬ 
deed,  she  was  III  so  luneh  haste  for  It  that 
she  had  hunted  Hch’.-.  mother  up  which  was 
a  maltei'of  somt'dilllfailiy— asshe  never  had 
( he  least  Idea  where  she  11  veil  before  and 
h  wv  crooked  the  stairs  were !  Hut  tlie  lace 
was  very  >  allow,  asslie  Sa  w,  and  would  sho 
he  sure  I/)  have  It  done  by  nine  o’i'loek  ix). 
night?  and  -■ 
_.\nd  then,  Mirnlilg  her  head  suddenly,  the 
straight  J  filing  lady  saw  jioor,  crooked  Deh 
In  her  hlgli  chair,  with  wonder  In  lier  eyes. 
“  I  wonfler  If  I  frightened  licr  7”  thought 
Heh.  But  she  only  wondered  and  did  not 
speak. 
Is  this  your — ” 
“Ye.s,”  said  Deh’.s  mother,  “tho  eldest. 
Fifteen.  I  ’ll  try  my  best,  ma’am ;  hut  I 
don’t  know  us  I  ought  to  promise.” 
She  .spoke 111  ahuslness-llke  lone,  and  lurn- 
ed  the  Cluny  hice-a  dainty  collar  and  a  pair 
of  soft  cuirs— about  in  her  hands  In  a  bush 
ii*^H-llke  way.  .A  breath  of  some  kind  of 
scencc!!  wood  struck  In  a  llHle  gust  against 
Deb's  face.  Nhc  w  onderofl  liow  people  could 
