The Little Rift Within The Lute.

There was a half-veiled triumph in her magnificent eyes , as she placed her hand on liis arm , and allowed him to lead her from the room . Mrs . Winter barel y glanced at them as they passed , but her companion lowered

his brows . Clifton Stanley was too hightoned a man to tolerate such a flirtation . He had come to Newport because Clarice Grantly came , and he had watched hexactions with suprised pain . He felt a sincere sympath y with Mrs . Winter , and

although to-ni ght they were not very good company for each other , they were perhaps better than they would have been for any one else . " I would not sit so calmly , " said a young married lady , " and see Clarice Grantly

carry off my husband by storm . " " Pooh ! " said another , " Mrs . Winter is very well entertained ; don ' t be a goose , my dear , they are a sensible couple . " If they were a sensible couple , Mr , Clifton Stanley ' s opinion was at fault . He sought out Clarice later in the evening , and remarked :

" I want to say something to you . " She flashed an inquiring look from under her long lashes . " It is for the peace of two people . You are certainly thoughtless ; you can never intend to monopolize so much of Mr . Winter ' s attention . "

" Has she been telling you her woes ?" asked Clarice , laughing . " Of course not . I speak from my own observation . " " Then your observation should show you that I am not the cause of any want of peace between them , besides , " shrugging her shoulders , " how can I help it if a man is attentive 1 "

With her laughing face , she looked like some sprite , in her dusk y beauty ; but Clifton Stanley knew her to-ni ght , as he had never known her before . He turned away with a distant bow to Mr . Winter , who just then approached . That night , Clarice Grantly taking down

her hair before her glass , laughingly said to the image of herself : " He would like me to stop flirting , I might as well try to stop breathing . I will flirt ; and I'll bring Clifton Stanley to my feet , too . " The days rolled on , and brought little change . The sea air hardly seemed beneficial to Mrs . Winter ; she was losing

her fresh colour , and her taste for society was waning . Clifton Stanley was growing morbid and gloomy , too . When lie conveniently could he cut Mr . Winter direct . On one such occasion , the latter remarked to a friend : " "What ' s the matter with

Stanley ? I can never make him out . " " Flirtation with Miss Grantly ! " Mr . Winter ' s eyes were opened . Stanley was a man for whom he had the highest respect . Not for the world would he have injured him .

Mr . Winter walked clown to the beach alone . " Flirtation with Miss Grantly !" It had been marked then , and his wife was utterly indifferent . He wondered , bitterly , if this life was always to last .

" Let us hurry down to the beach . There ' s a storm coming up , and they say there ' s a boat out , with a man it it . " The words startled a number of loungers in the parlour and balcony . Eager for novelty , ladies and gentlemen hurriedly attired themselves , and hastened clown to the beach .

The low , moaning noise of the sea had increased to a roar ; great , black clouds were fast gathering , and the waves came clashing and foaming , far up on the beach . They could see the boat , tossed and buffeted about by the waters . " The wind is blowing inland" said

, one , " she ought to drift ashore . " "She will capsize in a moment , " said another , " what madness to venture out to-day !" " Does any one know who it is ? " asked Clifton Stanley .

" Winter , " they say , "he was the only one who went out . " A sudden cry rang out , " Did you say it was my husband ?" " I think we can save him , " said Stanley . " I am going to take a boat . Who will go

with me 1 " " Oh , it ' s foolhardy , Stanley ; we can do nothing . See , over she goes , at last , " " Are you men 1 '' exclaimed Clifton Stanley . " Come , my friends , this is wasting time . Who'll go with me 1 "

Seeing him determined , one or two others voluntered , and the anxious crowd on shore watched them put off . Straining every effort ; now riding on the crest of a wave , now sinking , while the mass of water threatened to overpower o 2