HER IDEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 205, 27 August 1904, Page 13

HER IDEAL.

Py JEAX M_CI>DI_EM__SS. .Author of <r H_a_ __o_rr* «__.)

fw\ y_T_sjß__*____-" , *l **" t -_WB_l._ _f _« — T4l_^_?^_^^^^-^pp_ | g __S-sr <f**_ _ _T__ _- » - & * 3 *t*--wr WJI -««<*__; ri-__ _rr rrw-_i «___ irar («gl« §7qV »^jS^_B^^^^V^g.i___saa_S^£^_Ji

rfx of his cbi.tdhood. br lav- | tr t«r better than aught cl»> in life— , md she': ••lick lhai ski: c i- no; ncar:v I igtu ■M4B-. ."'" riU: ' : " L -" ,n Wy lU "" ketter that; thai I sdia-1! have lo go to , lotneotic ei-c. _ Up leaked Up ttvo he- i.ice 'alniersi befceiihingl.'- ... ..-], j. vcrv wi !! to pir p.-admp into tm pves. bui i: ""U' l T""' rm n,p Ir ' vm Uing.'tf the gets loo«-. J*r laughed. ••Ob. Bessie—Bessie. Can I never hlr-ase you" 1 " . H pr «am e r ™- •--: action wit;-, us J effort* did not -i-oni l,i dispici-H- bnn. j Perhaps hi- beliej m hitnsc: .nj i.s ] iocW position nuKi.; bin. th.uk hun-H j t0 an extent .nrallib!... Tlun ,oe wa_ 80, of this opin'.e.n W- interested ryec „gU imve cLvcrrcd. y pl DP was her ,;ousin. and she liked lam-was used to him as one is to an rod dock—or a rivet wd cup. from which we »rould par: with regret. He was « we!! di-veiope,! young fclJow not- lacking ihe strength women so _ag.lv himdaocne and hontul loojdlig vrrthal. Bessie Vernon might had -i worse .parti than her <' »u_un Lick Tr-velyan. Mi whom, bowewl. -tic kernel 1.. -e-i iwt little Biorc. parity bc_u>. a_! her relations were 1-cni on her tnarrym? _im ?ince da.-k was heir to n baronetcy m_ a considerable lor'.une but what inrl -rbo beJie-vcs in love. _.nri tbe feaninine i to; ''"> '-""tain.- only one man with whom i: i- «or'h living, ever gn-es any considenaiou lo s<ic:_J jk>sit .or'the on , plcasmre* t paid can produce 1 "" Bessie was romantic."' so W mother. ]_rlv \ernon. said: "when was a little older she would have BHire sense. Would sbe'- That was « que; ion that two rival men would have to dec.krp 1«----twecn them, pcrrhance even on lhai bright December day For the moment .lack Trevclynn w_s having an innincrs. nnd he was perniitIpJ |o adji_sl i !i<' skate? on the tiny. dainty feet La.|cv. wh+Ti '.ley circnlni-,-i aninng the skaters, he miffh: not find that he still held lir-t plat-. Hrankßiime |i.m!. \\hcrc i-hc. i-e mis thick and strong, wa- some three n_lc»frnm Burst f.'rove. where the Yeriiems livi-1. That Bessie had been allowed to po there, under -lack's c--ort. showed • j,P estr-e.rn he wa- held in by I he paternal authorities, who had given it as their intention that they world drive .ver with a hot 1 iin<-troon ami event itr.lly lake the youii;: peopli lia-'L iv the en rriagc. A\'hcn Sir mil Lady Vernon arrived, which tbiy did abemi two o'clock, not .•■ -iglt of cither Bessie or Jack wus to he peer.: though the pond vaa by no means extensive, and the ice »a- hearing jlrrnly. J._<l.v V cruon put in an an_-i_us exjireit.K>n. but Hugh treated tbe matter quite .joiiulK. as via- vis wont; lieverlheics ■ lie ncin on in lhe ice. and •doll mc; some acqU-iintuneC-,. "Seen Bessie anH laj-k' he asked. brougrli! luncheon iot liieiu, but _ can't -md t bern anywhere." "_Vot fnr a long time. Quite early tbey were skating." Thi- ___• the invariable tuvwer. and eucii .i vcy c., its tra Hied, cnigtuatica! rxpros-fon '■a.-m itr . <{>•■ f„i-e- o r ■~,, ! o->» •ehoni be ques.iKined. tin.; even cheery (.ir Hugn «a>- ticginrnng |o fee! a ivnn"viTi_ aiiK'unt of perplexity. "Where liic deuce can they he"*' he muttered. US having gone l wii-e round ihe pond lie stdl could discover no t r.u-e of them, "■-and v\ha.l ihe devil d" these people n>ean by lookinc as if they had elopi-d?" —and at this latter paid of his own soliloquy he laughed. "Not likely! 1 am Afraid Bcs-ie does not care crouch about poop old da.ck (o elope wiih lorn." Sii! : . not wit i__.i«ndtn_; ; ins little Aside. Sjr Uu.-li .- a 1-cei.y appeared a-s siia-ve an j heni'gn ». - usita 1 when be retnrireN. to tne erfrrta,.'', niuti informad bis W_;'e i aa.t he could no: tiltd the children anyv-bere. aad lhai "people looked what tbey did not say." Liklv Vernon, womanlike, jumped far lnore qiriekly at a conciusrion than did fcasy going Sir Hugh. "See. there is l_ady Frmnpton."' she Ba-id. "Ask her n -he bus seen anyone with -lack and Besisie to-day—-oi jrtop. l-i mc get uui of the carriage aiic BJiea k i v her.'' -No. no. tuy lovi. y on will csrtct your deal n ol i-old." So s.yirig. Sir Hugh went up to Lady Framploii and pul ;ne -uprroted (|tie.s. lion, nt vWiicii he. iiowenr. did noi se< ih" pisl. It brought Lad., Krii'apion to I b< tat ria«p. "tan \..:i ;i.row ,n\ ligiil on die ten strange conduci of my daughter an. Bepbew. wlio iv■; ,• loid ; > e.vpccl iv with lun-iicon. in ■ wi.i "':.ne alis<nte( _hera-cl\e i.: i tie M.O-' un-tprion; »ay?" h-i.it.i I.al \''-t;-ou. -prakinj *-it -l dignity. '■;_•:> Lt .-. Fr.impvon was I familiar- frietni. "I am afraid I crb." was the answer 'Tycils >liC\illc war oil ;h" jce thi' morninc " ••Nfievillr-" \- ■.;•:-,,nt...: ,-.,• Hutrh "ttlrfl ,i y ,"i i.-v .ou-. forpig"i name!"' " \ .ir: !,. i- a ridi'-uimis feivpigm per *ei»i." pin nt hi.- wife. "iieyert.lT'l.s. h( I- irlc.il." '•iiod hi- ni.\ sou 1 , —yon havi D'vcr ifij- mc uixi'ii it'is. Ho-v ie.ri rftni-- "t yon. I «nuii| a' once havi feloppcd foreign danglers "J thought the lu.iti hlld lef; ; h<- toun ♦ r> and I did nM wail t" worry you .lii'.'h det.r." " \h-un!: 1 am : !,- it. lividual t'.a »Mlgli; lv ha " i.e-M vMirried. c-pecnil l ; «.=. li-iim ill' ! ••.' .." liif'n (ace-, pvim-v Pile ill I lie i ...it,' . ;. ii.V" - moi c ! hail d" about m.v own ''aughtci." Witlmiii tin-Heriii_ h'.ni. oiu-c morthe anx.ou.- molher tarneei to Lad; Frampton. "1 do not undei'-iand how ihp com Ine of this Mievilie tiecounts for th' ebsetice id these two children." "Nor do I. Ml 1 can fil you [.-. the; all three here together ; hi- ninrr tlig. None ol 1 hern arc here uo\\." "Perhaps it is a mere ■ oincidern-c. tras the feeble hope, feebly uttered, whil Lady Vernon looked wiiite an Li'.iuLlcd. "Ton look as cold a? if you had got chill. 1 must insist cm your drivin home. I will look about for these mos reprchensive truants. Co at once. .Is tilda. and lhe carriage back t bring -'- '•'"-•c when 1 have loan

Of course it was Sir Hugh who thus dictated, but hi.- wife was not indined to be obedient. "No—no. l.el mc stay. Hugh. To go heuiie alone ivould make rue too miserable." Instead of acquiescing. Sir H_gh sbouicd: | "><-c. 1 licre '- .lack;" "Rut Bessie i. not with __„." was. the mother's whisper to herself." "Where is Be'ssicV" asked the anxious' parents as in one voice. "J don't know." was .he by no means inspiriting answer. * "You do not know, .Tack, yet you wcr<. ptae-ed iv charge, therefore responsibb ."" and Sir Hugh, angry and anxious, i spoke lo ihe point. The younger man! winced, while' Lady Vernon asked eager-} ly. "How and where did you lose her*" j • lack hung his head. lie also was angry—and ashamed. "She went along tiie little backwateT towards the Mill with Mieville. They said 1 here was good skating there. You know where I mean. I'nele Hugh?" "Perfectly; but why did you not go with them." "I did. of ours-, but i had not proceeded far before nne of ray skates came off: by the time J had ma-naged to rearrnng" il they were miL of sight." "And you followed'-'* "To th" Mill —yes. .Jessop. the miller. said be knew neitfring about them, and had not seen them."' "And you believed him?"" '"No. I did nol. but 1 couki ewe nothing of them myself. 1 waited there for more 'ban half an hour, and tJien I returned, hoping tbey. for some reason, had preferred the pathway, and that I should find litem here." "Do yon know this Mievelle?" "I know bini 1 o be lhe most abject enr and villain in Britain. If eve;- 1 come nere-ss him I will pay h.ru out for this day's work." "So!" Sir Hu_rb looked tbougirLful and crcstfalien. Thai lib daughter—his Bessie— he had ever passed a> a m_n who held lik- hewu 'd-boi. o tbe he-ads of intist jieople —should make herself notoriously oonti-y-'.alk wa- ineleed a bitter pill for him io swallow. 'J'hough harTle.d as he apparently wa.-, he wlis noi the man to allow himwif to appeal crushed. "It is useless waiting here." he __id. '•(.et into tbe parriage. Jack. No doubt we shull lind Bessie, there on our return."' Lady Vcrnem shook her head, and some tears epiiotly dropped, but. she did nt't remoiis'trale. Poor woman, she was petrified by tiie cold, which was intense, and she had not an a term of resistance left. "Had 1 Dot better stay. Uncle Hngh?" c tigges;ted .lack. '•Certainly not- If Bessie ha* chosen te go off with that fallow, she must cltor.se to return with him!" Almost heart - broken, iot he loved Bessie very dearly, and determined to wreak full ve-ngi-a.icc on Mieville. whenever he came acres-, him. .tuck got kite the carriage. In 1 he conclusion he had armed at Sri Hugh -was correct. Bessie waa standing ou the doorstep laughing, as tbey drove up to 1 hr front- door at the l_.-n\e. !l was not. however, with i_i_ghtci lhai she v, .is received, but wiih ominou. disapproval and coldncs-. Ncsei iv al! he life Itelorc had Sir Hugh shown se much anger at the not wayward behaviour of his "dpar. sweet Bessie": wiiih Lady A crnori said noth iT.<r She showed her feriiugs in tears anrl ;»- for .luck, he «as us glum tuic s.i\T.ge-|(yokin_;. a - ii tht bank in W'ilick al! h .- wealth -a- -to-ccl had collapsec —perhaps he thought it had. "Whatever ba.s hrijipened to yot peoplr' Ha ■ the col-1 ge>t into yout marrow?" a-k''d the girl, v-ith an .-mount ot fiinjianiy, thn: under ihe circum stances jarred, even on her up-ualiy in dulgent father. He spok" in a l"iid angry voice. ''What do you mean ly careerinf about the cotiniry with a lew scoun elrei. whom you scarcely know, and giv ing Us all 1 his trouble and anxiety? Ii not .lack pood enough for you? Sinei \ ou went oui wiih him. could yon no remain with him?"' Spoilt a.s she had always been. Bes_i( wa> by her father- unusua lone, which was so furious .-be tl;. ret noi retaliate, so she rounded on -lack. "Yt>U -ne-ik." siic -.«iu. "•-. ion h.-_v< been (ellinj: and complaining." .luck.- anger, which during the lashour had been In no lucans dormant >>a- now thoroughly awakened, and hi in his lurn answered fiercely: I -'I shall know how to speak plaints I lo the fe'low who has played mc tbii i seurvv trick: Only let mc come acrog: i him- there will not t»c many whole bone.! I left in hi« body." "Indeed! And l>\ such means }-ot ■ think to win mc. to keep mc from-" ■•silence. On to y onr room." thunder cd Sir llu.h. who had sudd'mh' bei-omi ■ alive to the fact ihar the servants wer> 'witnesses of ihi.« unpleasant fami'; broil. "I will nol f_T to mr room till I hart ! ioH you abf.ui "Vt- Mieville Sir Knjrh ag.'iin inumtpted. ' ''.larf.: an- 1 I __ i 1! know how to dea | wiih the fellow. We don't wani your a_ I si-lance, (.n t.. yowr rooni.'" 1 Bessie, thus summanly ordered, fed | compelled to obey, but as she did so sic • i said to her mother, who followed her: I -Why there should be such a storm ii • a teacup because 1 skated -with a pleas I ant m.'iii. and th<Mi came home throug! ! the woods. I can't imagine." "But. Bessie, it was not the. right thirs • i io do. indeed tl wa- not—and poo : '■ Bother -lack! He has I<cpii my slav lall tn\' lit' —»hv ihi- tu.*-- now? lie i ■ ' nut to he compared to Mr. Mievelle. wh • is mv ideai of -whai a man should be. ! "Oh. Be_sie. 1 have always hoped tha . I you would marry Jack." ■! "Indeed!" "And te think that this Mr. Mievilb thi c vauric.n. sliould have come betwee - j you. m hiie Jack is as bra\r- said trne a ; aii.i man in England'" ': Be? _c lossed her head. .' "We will not discuss the subject fui 1 ther. mother, because evidently we sha not agree." i She had by litis time taken off lie l bat and -"arm wraps, and was -sittin; t in front of a good fire, with her feet o - the fender, for the December day wa i waning. aDd Bessie, though her repbe ] were tart and off hand. wa. not in he jrazuist Jwart sJosi-Mdg mUk-mi sat

lier own conduct- She Eked .lack fronlong usage, but she could not believe b that she loved him. * "Poor Jack.''' sbe thougi_t_ 'I tre_u.ed him ra-ther barbarously, but is * not Louis MieveLle a man to make a ft girl forgrt everyone else on earth ':" The current of her thought* was temporarily broken by l___y Vernon putting '• the material question. "Will you have some luncheon?" j v The a___w_r. "Thank yoo. T bavei l lunched." so stirred the mother's e_i_- : j. osity and anxiety about '"tbe child's con- ■ duct" thai, feeling s! c bad no more to _ say. she went off in searen of her husband and nephew. Sbe urgently "wranted to find ont what - they had in tbeir minds to do. for sbe ! _ saw plainly they were both in a mood a for violence. - Si_- Hugh wae chewing tbe end of his' j iTI-temper in his own den. thai is. he was smoking with very vigorous puffs. Jack j Trevelvan had apparently absented kir- j _eM. It was of Jack rather than of her " husband that Lady Vernon was think- j ing. in that hour of trouble about Bessie, i , '"Where is he —where is Jack?"' &_-c,j i asked; in the subdued voice thai women.-j I asstuce when tbey arc frigntened. j Sir Hugh did not, know where daek 1 I waj. though he said be might probably j have gone to look at the horses, as he often did at that hour. _ He was not. however. p_rt»e___riy . agreeable or communicative. He was , aapry with hie wife for keeping him ig- . norant about Bessie*.* penchant for '"that feflow Mievifle." and not being one oi those iwssbajidß who habitually quarrel wiLh their wives, he preferred to say , nothing, rather than enter into a bitter disfloss-on. That he had had one with Jack, who it now appeared had also known—to his own keen sorrow—of several meet - ings between his cousin and this __ievillr. did not make Sir "Hugh any tbe m-oTe desirous to thresh the mailer out again with her ladyship Finding she ! could gain no in format, or from Sir Hugh. Lady Vernon went into what was celled "the little <_rawing-room." where the family usually met for five o'clock tea. and took her «cat in her own particular arm-eiiair by tlie Are. There was. however, no chatter andlaughter round the tea-table on that, cxdd l>_ceTOr»er afternoon. Tbe atrnofsphere was as dnll inside the room as it: was withoiit. and not even the large locs, which in anticipation of approaching Christmas bad been placed on the fire, would keep the solitary lady warm. Sir Hugh did not mmc for the one; strong eaip he elaiiv drank under protest | that it was ""unmanly stuff." "Mr. Trevelyan." the butler said, '-was not in the house," and even Bessie, who at that hoar was always full of chatter: and fun. did not put in an appearance. I l_ady Vernon's nerves were wrought to such n pitcli of tension tb-s t sbe felt j that she could endure the silence and I the suspense no longer. j "What has happened? What was go- i ■ • ir»!_; to happen Something." she felt cer-l | tain. ' •j She had ;i stron_r belief in present i- ; j ment. r.nd that trouble lay athwart her ■ ! life, she- felt sure- j j She ran- the bell. ''Tell her rna'd to inform Miss Bespicj , I tfrat ten is ready." I I Several t_.:imMil-< pHSserl v, biV- the i i order drifted into the proper channel. I • They seemed an eternity to Lady Ver--I non. to anTirra? wn-s she. without quite . knowing why site should be so. ] Al ixs! the hirtlcT returned with the! I answer that Miss Bessie was not in her j room. I Lady Yernrm had th- greatest drfiV colty in repressing a swrearn. 1! was only a strong dcs-ire that the servant should not observe tier anxiety Ih-\t, forced her into controlling bcrsHf. With the enforced control ramc the reflection that, to lie ___iou_: was silly"Of course. Bcssrie had gone cm to f'nd Jack. and make up the difference they had had aSout that wretched Mi-"V_He" > I_ve_ while these thoughts were flitting about her miud a vigorous ring " came at the front door bell. 5 Thai >isrtors could Lave arrived at - that hour, she could not for a moment t deceive hers-lf into imagining, and Hie colour faded out of her ehee-ks as she " wondered who i; could possibly be. ' (.nee more she pnlled her.-elf tagcth--1 j er. a_}_ went into t lie li_.ilThe outer door already liad been - i opened. and liic winter'-. bir..-. curled in oui of the darkness. pe.optT.;I ing nnd chill. There wa-s a murmur-np and a fiis.?. 1 a* of sti-vera! people talking in muffled tones. 7 -What is if. Mason' What is it."* 5 she asked, speaking to liic butler. - "Mr Trevplya.il. my !ad\— hr i- hurt." , "Hurt! merciful Heaven." . few rapkl strides, nnd she was be i side a roughly made litter nn which •lack lay uneemseirois. - "Is. he dead'" she asked, in a de*r! ■. I level voice. aU "eeling fe.j the roo- • ! ment apparently d r 'iTnatit. ,-1 "Oh. no —no." was Th-e cheery arwwPr 'trom the head gamekeeper. '"'"HcTI be .'a'] ri^bt. my b_dy—if be : s .ended and j nursed."' ! "But what ha.? happened—wa.- it an | j acridenr 1 " .j "Not exactly an accident —a quarrel; 1 but _e.t ns ir,-i the young gc.n*4<-rnan up • ■to hod—l've sent for Dr. .lenks." ?! Sir Hugh arrived on the scene, i-o 1 ask what till the commotion -vas alxiut. ij Bessie came in al the open door. -I In the elci-trit lisrht. which filled the -jhn.il villi hrilliancy. she looked paY land wild-featured- -totally unlike th? j! bright girl everyone was a ecus to mc el to r I see. Tbough siic wa,s i lad in warui wraps, c she bad n<> hat on lier head, and the s sirong wind, which had evidently c.< ■■• o ried it away, had blown her hair about '' her shoulders. Sue had fortuna-leiy t reached tbe threshold of her home, for :it seemed a-s if her tottering footsteps | refused to take her any further. __c held out her arms a--- though seekn iiK. support and refuge. _ ii m. Lady Vernon who took 'he j sobbing child to her heart. I "_aie him—save Jack—it was all my •- : fault—-save him." [1 Routed into activity by circumstances. Lady Vernon was no longer limp and r irijhtened. t z "Call Renton." she said, tnrning to Sir n Hugh: '"she can look after the child . while i go to Jack." _ "No. no." cried Bessie, polling herself r together with an effort. "_ am going to. k _*ek __Ur_.iL''

I S.rr__gth seemed suddenly to have re-1 | i-urned to bcr: before anyone (_>uld ! j stop her she sprang up the starrs to the room -"here they had already laid ' -Jack em the bed. He had jnst opened I his eyes, vchen Bessie knelt down be--1 skie him. "Jack —dear Jack. Say ymi forgive I roe. ] have been aeh'-willed and bliDd j—bat, -lack, only get well and I will never love anybody bat you." | Her mother, who had followed, tried jto get her away, f__r_t_. lest exeitel ment might endanger Jack's life, but ! Dr. Jenks. who arrive- most oppor- ' ttHM_ly. Mopped too hasty interference. ".\ little love nearer kills." he said, in is jocose way: "still, young lady. I tonid like to find oui what injury my >un° friend has received. Suppose you -i Into another room nnd calm yonr■lf a bit. You shall come back pre--lltfy." (mly retaining Sh Hugh and Laurie. .c keeper. wbo--e aid he knew w_i _____._.. he sent all the others away. Once in b_r .m room, where fiesi-ie as led by her mother, she sal and sobcd and cried, as if her heart would reak. It was only in the most disyinted -way thai Lady Vernon cooid rrive at kr_owii_g what had ocenrred. '•It i- all my fault—l vein e>_l In tee. Mieville —went more out ot braado than from in__i-_at---i — beara-usc ack was so jealous md angry—more ngry than 1 thought lie had any right n lie. and nam —ah. tleaj—mother, dc ou tiiriik -tack will die?" "No. love—no—but what happened' •id they fight?** 'Jack met us. and asked tne to _.n_e wav with him. 1 refused, and then he cnt for Mieville with h_s doubled fists, nd railed him vile., rude na_.es —asked im hew he dared lnre n>c ont of tut rthcr's b-ntsr —ihei. —then—ok. mother o think i should have, called sach „ roar ny idcttl"—Mievnie took a knife on: o' js pocket and stabbed Jack." "A knife, child—wh»4 sort of a knife?* "A lont_ foreigii looking knife. 1 be icve he v, oaki have killed Jack only in;, creams brow*-.; Laurie to the resxuie aid Mieville ran away. LauTic I Vhinl ras the knife." At the r-M»._*_-oD of the scene. Bessw ince more broke down and sobbed eon -uls-iveiy. "What a o_t_s__-_s we shal tare, nnel 1 thought it was going to bi r. jolly." she said at last, looking vi liroogh her te.ars. "And so it will be— jolly—Miss Bessie .hough wo don't deserve it." said I*. U»nks. who canie into the room. "1 rants a fortnight to i'hrifrt-__ES —by Ihei riy good friend Jack will t>e fully read; ci punch the head of any ol.lier love .-on may thkak tit to start.." "No more lover-,. Dr. .tetiks. Neve !;rn:n will 1 listen te> any tnttn." "Stop-stop, young lady. You forge Jack. If yon {ell him yon won't lis'r o like I won, answer for his life. Evemer« flesb wounds want kind lrc„! iK-nt." "May 1 go and ton hbrn that I wil istm io him 7" asked Bessie meekly. -You may if you will only stay thre ___.utes." 1 It was Cbi-K-j-tf-s -five, and Dr. Jenlf jroinxiso of betterment had I>o.-t] fnlfilier .lark wtis convalescent, and was th Life _nd spirit of a targe parly ef youn relations, who bad arrived. » s tbey di -very year, to keep high' revel at Huts -i-rove. On the faces of both Pir Hugh an Lady \ ernon content and happines siuiied. Their spoilt child wan absolute and all recoPfction of i,ou: Mieyillc and tlie trouble he had oeej sioited was apparently forgotten. Sim ho had pone ofi' abroad, i-fraid ci th BOTisequenees of his intemperate art. an Sir Hugh a-nd Jack, in order io avoi scandal, bad made no search for bin he wouid tney knew annoy I hem r more. Only over Bessie"- brow eve during ihesc days of joy and mirth, tliei came an occasional dark shadow. N one. however, noticed it but .l.ut.. :ir lie fell to wondering why H should 1 tberr. At last be asked Ihe met.:iin It was his right to tisk now. since I was her acknowledged fiance. "Oh. .lack, how i_.n you expect ir to forget . That 'ideal' will always stai about my life like a nightmare. I dot) believe the day will ever dawn win duri_i£r some hours of it. the reeolie tion e»f the pain and to_._o.nf 1 hai brought you. will not darken even ll I. right-on joy." "Denrpsi Bessie, lhe 'ideal' jp den aTiei must be buried forthwith. If V( really i are for tbe living man with h many imperfections—love him—love hi only, and think no more of the pp.s vcr.ic.l has e-e__see| to fjp any place m n mind. Soy. little woman—you will pr misc—won't you—that, if my rove suHioiont for you. forth with you w think only of trip-"-" ' Only of you. .lack—only of you." I'uder the mistletoe thai hung ov their headii the paj-L was .sealed by a \o ing kiss.