MISS BRACE'S DREAM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3581, 2 October 1879, Page 3

MISS BRACE'S DREAM.

BY Q. T. (Concluded.) Miss Brace sat down on the nearest ottoman and sobbed aloud. She felt horribly j she had been riddled by shots of truth till she was liko a dismantled target ; she had given up her scheme of reformation and only wanted to gefc away. Half a dozon gentlemen came up and stood just beforo her, talking I eagerly — all noted millionaires (on paper), sleek, well-fed men with husky, apoplectic voices. " If it's properly developed," one was saying, "it will be tho richest mine in America — yes, sir, the richest mine in America. Magnificent ore ; only needs development. ' I know you want to take a hand in this deal, Vesey," turning to some one near. " Of course I do, if you aro dealer," said Yesey, good-humouredly. "Tell us Bomothing moro about it," and the group hung breathlessly on tho silver-king's words. He cleared hia throat and began pompously, " Well, as I told you"— when Polly laid her wand on his arm softly, so softly thafc he did nofc feoi ifc, and went on unconsciously, bufc wifch a totally different manner and tono — " it's a bilk, the biggest humbug of all the humbugs. No ore thero— nothing but a shaft. Lord bless you, we don't caro whether there was ever a mine or nofc if we can play our littlo game. It's a pitfall for stockholders. They put their money in and we take ifc oufc," and he glanced complacently round afc the blank faces of his audience. They all looked shocked, not because thoy wero shocked, but because it had become second nature to fresco their wholesalo manipulations of the market with rosecoloured lies. "Oh, como," said Vesey, "you're joking." Polly put her hands to her head and held ifc tight to keep it from flying apart. How had she evor thought she could ever regenerate this Paradise of storytellers, when they wero so unaccustomed to tho truth that they did not recognise it when they saw it. The obese stock man wont on talking — " I'm in a pretty tight piice now, myself, but I can pull through if I gofc my schemes carried oufc. Somebody haa gofc to be beggared, and " But Folly did not wait to hear any moro. She had caught sight of the fairy godmother in the crowd, and -hurried away to givo up the waud 'which had become hateful in her sight. When , she reached the place the figure was gone, but Polly thought she saw tbe white euh-bonuot juat ahead, and on Bho flow, jostling ladies and gentlemen reck'essly in her. flight. , Through ono gorgeous labyrinth after another she ran, until, all breathless, Bhe fell into the major's arms and lay thero unable to speak or explain. When she raised her head Bho saw the ebony rod resting against; his coat. Sho snatched it away fiercely, .,..'.'" "Now, you will be like all the reßt," she exclaimed, drawing away from him. "Liko all fcho rest, child ? Whafc do you mean ? Coooo with me and tell mo all aboufc ifc. Tho wholo truth you know." " I hate tho truth, said Polly," emphatically. " I'm a great goose. I thought it would be | so nice to havo everyone truthful, but I must have been mistaken. Now, tbis dress— " " Well," interrupted the nnjor, " I don't think I'd like tb introduce you to my friends dono up in that fashion, but I liko you just as well, and you're really a very clever girl, only a little self-willed, but we've all worse faults than yours." i Polly could nofc believe her ears. Was thia the major who .was always snubbing and scolding her ? Had the magic wand lost its power ? " You're very good," she faltered humbly ; " won't you pleaso take m8 homo ? " The major looked afc the queer figure boforo him, hesitated a moment, and then, drawing hor hand through his arm, quietly . led the way back again through tho gay crowd Polly had jusfc lei'fc. As they they wero going out I at the fino entrance gate somebody pulled her ! dreas, and looking down she saw the author of all her misfortunos. "I hopo you've had a nice time," she chuckled. " I'd liko my pretty toy, if you please." „ , Polly frowned at her aogrily. " You'ro a wicked old woman," she said, leaning. down to give the mito tho full benefit of her indignation. -■■-■■ % "You're a great fool," retorted tho old lady, "and ungrateful .besides. I only gave you what you asked for." " Tho world's bettor just as it is," said Miss Brace, with the knowing air of a great -discoverer. "Of course it is. I could havo told you that in the first place," and the small woman shrugged her tiny shoulders. "As it is, you've made mischief enough. You growled at Miss Blanchard's fibs, but they won her a husband, without whom tho family would have gone to tho dogs. When you made the Major's wife Eay those delightful things to Mrs Banks you ruined tbe happiness of two young people, for everybody knows that voung Banks and the Major's daughter aro hopelessly in love, and they depended on mamma's winning ways to soften the heart of Banks' pere and reconcile him to the lack of fortune. Now the whole thing is ruined. I hope you feel satisfied. I don't approve of deceit myself," tho little creature added with 1 a sanctimonious air, " bufc we'll never be able ■

to find the happy medium in thafc any more' than other things. Bub I've opened your eyes, now I'll shut them again," and she gate Polly a rousing thwack with her stick jifet across her nose, whereat the latter groanid and awoke with a «tarfc to find tho eunßhine streaming into her face, and her three small nephews beating a devil's tattoo on her dodr! When she put up her hand to her forehead she found a big lump there, bo these adventures must all be true, or at least they wefe as near the truth aB Miss Brace ever catfie again. But she never married Froude. — slfn Francisco Argonaut. I