"Mrs. Quilliam."

years I have Avorked for you , tho' yon seemed so far out of my reach ; and I came borne determined to win 3-011 . " When we reached the Keroo , Mrs . Quilliam was in the kitchen , and Evan went in to her , while I slipped upstairs unobserved . When I joined them I saw sho Avas still in ignorance of our bavins , met * .

" Do 3 * 011 see AVIIO I ' ve got hero since you left ? " she asked , looking anxiously to know how I would receive the new comer . "As Ave cooly shook bands and I sat quiet , she saiel in a stage aside , "You mig ht take some notice of bim for all , and bim comin' so far to put a- sight on us . " As she bustled about getting * the tea ready , talking excitedly , she was evidently in doubt as to the turn events Avould take .

" When ho come in , I was that through others you could have knocked mc down wifch a father . I was frikened , thinkin' maybe it wass his spcrrit come home ; that hc was longin' maybe , or in throuble . But its himself and no mistake , and I'm right g lad to see him . " After tea I went into the parlour , Avhere Evan followed me . Presently I heard the croaking of boots , and sa-AV Mrs . Quilliam ' s face looking in at the door .

Sb-j came in with smiling countenance . " Well , IIOAV aro 3-ou gettin' on here ? " she asked . " You ' re lookin' niiddlin' comfortable anyway — the two of 3 * 011 . "

"Mrs. Quilliam."

Evidently thinking things Avero going on well , she was going * out again , but stopped to say " That ' s thrue , Evan ; where wass that bit of property you AA'rote about ? Wass it in this neighbourhood ? " Getting an affirmative reply , she continued with a knowing look , "Wouldn ' t ifc be nice UOAV if ye built a house on it and settled in these

parts , only you'd want a Avife . " Evan said certainly , he couldn't do Avithout one . Mrs . Quilliam felt in smooth waters at last . "NOAV , whore would you get a bather than Miss Marcia here ? " Could you put in a good Avord for me , Aunt ? " Evan asked , with a sly twinkle at mc .

" To bc sure I will , and that ri g ht willingly , " she said , with radiant face . " Didn' I tell 3 * 011 I Avas a gud " Dooiney Moyllee " ? Miss Marcia , you couldn' do bather than take him , he ' s mortal fond of you , and rich into the bargain , and what more do ye Avant ? " Then turning to Evan , "It ' s all ri ght , " she said , " you can do the rest , " and with that disappeared .

When she came back she was satisfied that things were settled to hor mind ; and to this day she tells IIOAV she acted " Dooiney Moyllee" saying that onl y for her "Miss Marcia AA-ould naver have got a man . " BARRULE .

Frank Featherstone's Fairy.

Frank Featherstone's Fairy .

A CHRISTMAS STORY FOR CHILDREN OLD AND YOUNG .

f , T was about the last p lace in tho world where any wellconditioned fairy , who respected conventional environments , Avonld be expected to pay a visit . ,, -Tttf * True , it was Christmas EA * C , AVIICH the denizens of the JSM P Sp irit World arc apt to play ellish tricks upon credulous Vftpip ( mortals ; Avhen to the SAA-eetly-pealing bells shadowy forms fr ** g lide in and out of firelit rooms , Avhere , wrapped in some tender memory of the by-gone , sits the lonely dreamer ; or razing from the casement in his dingy attic , far above the snowy

street , Avhere only he and the silvery stars look down in the hush of the midnight solitude , the poet sees white-robed forms , with shining Avings , tloat between earth and sky , and hoars , with throbbing heart , and eyes moist with unbidden tears , the faint oebo of that glorious

song , sounding through the centuries" Peace on earth lo men of goodwill . " But Frank Fontherstoiie AVUS neither dreamer nor poet , and had , in common Avith the matter-of-fact young man of our incredulous ago , a line contempt for everything he could not understand .

A clerk in a City AViirchouse , earning the miserable stipend of £ 70 a year , his hours of drudgery as exceptionally lung as his salary was meagre , with little prospect of ad \* aiicement , aud no friends , Frank Avas as sad-hearted , anil lonel y a young man as any of that countless army of toilers , who , like more Avriting machines , keep 011

day after day , year after year , thankful only for holidays , because they alford them rest . ' " So this is Christmas Eve ! " lie sighed , tilling his pipe , and gazing wearily out of the smoke-grimed Avindow upon the dreary , fog-wrapped prospect Avhich lay beyond .

It Avas a miserably Avretehcd CA-ening , a choking niiasnuc pall shrouded everything , and the feAV lamps Avore utterly poAverless to dispel the gloom , even in thoir vicinity , appearing onl y like blurred dashes of dull VOIIOAV upon a background of impenetrable darkness ,

Frank Featherstone's Fairy.

whilst the unfortunate pedestrians , whom neccssit 3 compelled to bo in such an atmosphere , loomed like shrouded spectres as they momentarily passed within the sickl y gleam of the lamplight . AVith a shudder of disgust , Frank hastily pulled down the blind , and dreAV together the curtains of dull , faded purple moreen , to shut

ont the unpleasant prospect , and then picking at hazard a book , which stood in a row with a feAV others on a shelf against the wall , he throw * himself into a dilapidated arm-chair , the antiquity of whose covering of frayed chintz Avas artfull y hidden beneath a hideous wrap of knitted wool , Avhose glaring mixture of red and orange was sufficient to set one ' s teeth on edge .

Some rooms can never be anything but vulgarly common-place . This one was a striking example . Its dull drab paper , scattered over Avith impossible blue and pink flowers ; its pembroke table beneath the ' windoAv , bearing its trophy of shell-Avork flowers , in a glass shade covered at the top hy a crocheted horror ; the half-dozen chairs , ranged stiff and unbending against thc walls ; the hard sofa , standing

by itself against the doorway ; the tawdry glaringly coloured prints , and no less common Bohemian glass vases on the mantle-board ; the Avhole reflected in a tarnished mirror , all , all were vulgar , eA * en as wns the large , brass-bonnd-gilt-edged Bible , also covered 113- an antimacassar , which stood in the middle of the green cloth on the table in the centre of the room .

Only the fire , with its darting , dancing flames , its showers of sparks , as some half-burned coal fell into its glowing heart , its pleasant crackle and hiss , gave thc room anything of a home-like appearance .

So thought Frank , tis he sat idly gazing into its ruddy cavernous depths , endeavouring to make all kinds of curious things out of tho black and scarlet contrasts .

Evidently imagination failed him , for be poked at the lire with his foot , aud turned his attention to the volume he had selected . As be opened it , a little old-fashioned valentine fluttered from its pages and fell at his feet . He stooped and picked it up . It was only a tiny affair of lace paper , Avith a silver dove bearing a golden heart in its beak , across an expanse of whito satin , with the legend in the scroll of roses round the edge : —

"As long as ever sun shall shine I'll he your own true valentine 1 " nnd at the baok Avas Avritten , in a childish round hand "From Elsie lo Fraiil ,: "

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