Frank Featherstone's Fairy.

"Cream , Sir P " asked the man respectfully . " Yes , yes , " replied Frank , wondering what extraordinary miracle had so changed his environment since lust nig ht . He sipped his chocolate—yes , that was real enough and hot enough io make more cream advisable .

" Yonr bath is ipiite ready , sir , " said the deferential valet , as ho handed him a silk-lined dressing gown . Frank jumped out of bed , and looking at the door leading to his bath-room he saw written above it in characters of shining goltl the wordsin * : itKsor . uTi *! HE HAW-JUST ! HE TRUB !

" What was that mysterious voice ? " hc asked himself , as , on entering the luxurious breakfast room , the selfsame golden letters met his sight . His mind was in a turmoil . What did it mean ? Who and what was hc ?

Another servant brought in the post-bag . Hc unlocked it , and drew forth its contents . All the letters were addressed to Sir Francis Foathersouo ! He looked at the date of the post-mark and started . It was June 2 l * fli , 190 ;?! More than ten years had passed since he fell asleep that Christmas Eve in his lodgings in Camden Town .

He opened them , and read the contents , which were mostly of a social nature , invitations to dinners , and solicitations for his presence at various public functions . Vainly he tried to find some clue between the past and present , but , except the golden letters above the portals , he could find none .

" The carriage is waiting , Sir , " said one of thc men who had waited on him at breakfast . Mechanically he rose and followed the man , and entered a splendidly appointed landau , which stood svith its pair of perfectly matched horses at the front entrance to the imposing mansion .

" Where to , Sir ? " asked the liveried footman , handing him the wrap for his knees . " City , please , " replied Frank . Away they went , and did not stop until they arrived at the

warehouse in which his Uncle Humphrey had made his fortune . As he entered the office the clerks all rose and bade him " Good morning , " and he passed onward to his uncle ' s private room , noticing as he went along the legend inscribed over every door that that wonderful voice had uttered ten years ago .

The chief cashier entered , and laid before him such letters as required his personal attention , and as hc listened to the details of the business in hand , the mist floated from his brain , and ho delivered his orders as though cognisant of the intricacies of the business over which ho evidently had rule .

It was till wonderfully strange and perplexing , but nobody , himself excepted , seemed surprised , and so hc tried to treat his changed position calmly and dispassionately , till A sudden memory flashed upon him , and thrilled his heart to its core .

He thought of Elsie ! " I will go to her at once , " he exclaimed . " At last—at last , I can win her forever , my own . " Swift as the electric train bore him to Sawehester its speed did not equal his longing to see and ho near his dearest one again .

At last he arrived there , aud disdaining * a conveyance , walked to the little old-world village , under the hill , wliere she dwelt . "How will she greet me , after all these years ? " he said softly , as ho paused a moment on tlic old grey-stone , lichen clad bridge , which spanned

the brawling , swiftly flowing stream , and gazed down the single row of white-walled , half-timbered cottages , their window-sills gay with bright-blossomed flowers , to the church , whoso low castellated tower stood blackly against tho sunset sky .

With wildly beating heart ho arrived at the farmhouse to find tho windows barred , the garden a wilderness of weeds , the whole place unutterabl y sad in its desolateness . No smoke curled from its

Frank Featherstone's Fairy.

chimneys , no hand was there to open the door unto him , nor voice to give him welcome . With a sense of unspeakable sorrow he turned away . " She is married ! " he said , with intense bitterness . With slow and heavy steps he passed onward , until he came to

the church , and opening the lych-gate , he entered the quiet graveyard . The air was heavy with the scent of lilac , ami vocal with birdmusic , while the splendid sunset died in rosy gold behind the leafy elms , and a mystic auirons ha / . c stole gently up the fertile valley . He heeded none of Nature ' s harmonies . Bitter , very bitter , was bis heart within him .

Distinct among tho ago-worn headstones and low turf mounds , hc noted a , broken pillar of white marble gleamed . He approached it to see what name was carved on its base . There was but ono word and the date .

"ELSIE , JUNE 24 * nr , 1903 . " . With a voiceless sob , he cast himself before it , ( hen utter

darkness fell upon him , and he remembered no more ! * * * - * - - * # "Ain ' t you a never a goiu' to gel . up , Mr . Featherstone ! 'Ere ' ave I bin a ' amnierin' at your door this live minutes , an' there ' s a hold gent a waitin' as wants to see you pertickier ' ec ses . "

" It ' s only me , Frank . Let mo in please , I want to sec you . " " Why , Uncle Humphrey ! _ " exclaimed Frank , in astonishment , as he opened the door to his visitor . " Yes , lad . I thought I'd come earl y in case you might bc gone out . You don't seem very glad to see me , though . "

The younger man held out his hand . " A merry Christmas , Uncle ! " "And so it shall be , my lad , if you will make ifc so . We ' ve both acted like a couple of fools . There , there , let bygones be bygones . "

" I shall be happy to do so so , I ' m sure , Uncle . " " You must conic and dine with me to-day , Frank . You will , lad ? I ' m terribl y dull and lonely all by myself . Look here , I ' ve kept my eye on you for a long time past , ever since—" " Don't let us speak of the past , Uncle , please . "

All I want to say is you ' ve proved yourself worthy of my confidence . Your employers give you an excellent character . Moro than I did , egad , when—" " I try and do my duty . It ' s sometimes hard enough heaven knows . "

" 1 want you to conic back to me Frank . Not as a servant , but as a son . Try and love mo a little lad for I ' m going down hill fast , and its dark there , when one has nobody to trust in or care for . " The old man ' s tears fell upon Frank ' s hand , which still held his own , and the young man answered huskil y , " I'll come , uncle . Yes : I'll come . "

"I ' ve invited some old friends to dine with us to-day , Frank . I want to introduce you to them as my future partner , " said Humphrey as they drew near his houso . Frank did not ask who tho friends might be , as he believed they were city men , to whom as a business man his uncle desired to introduce him .

" Excuse mo a little while , uncle , I have a letter I must write at once , " ho said , as they entered the house together . " Sec my friends first my lad " urged tho old man . " They ' re

staying here for a few days and are waiting to see you . " He opened a door , and Frank saw a beautiful girl rise from her seat at the fireside , and come forward to greet them . " Elsie !"

" Frank ! " Humphrey softly closed the door upon thom , and said under his breath " We shall have a merry Christmas after all !" And they did ! WILL EDWARDES SPRANGE .

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