Waiting For Her—A Mesmerist's Story.

" She burst into tears , and in a moment Avould have been in hysterics had I not again placed my hands upon her shoulders , ancl breathed upon her calmness ancl repose . "Answer me , Avhat is the matter ? "I shitll never forget the feeling that came over me Avhen she replied slowly and Avith awful solemnity , " ' He is dead , and you haA-e killed him !'

' ' The jury brought in a verdict of ' Died by the visitation of God . ' " Ah , my dears , " the old man said , " never let passion get the mastery over you ; neA'er try to accomplish your ends whateA'er they be by foul means . Had I

never heard anything of mesmerism I should haA ^ e been a happier man ; but I have repented UOAV of my wickedness , and I trust I am forgiven . " The old man was affected by the memory of the past , and I saAV him clasp his hands

as if in prayer for a moment or tAvo , and then he boAved his head . Silence fell oA'er us , one of those expressive pauses which comes sometimes epiite suddenly upon a company Avhen there are angels passing through the roomas is the old SAvedish

, superstition . Is it so , reader , do you think ? Is there an unseen presence standing by our side ancl notioning us to good deeds Avhen we Avould do evil 1

How few of us in these days of materialism believe in guardian angels . Presently Maude broke the silence b y asking—¦ " What became of Kate , Uncle . " " She married a year or two after , but died Avithin a tAvelvemonth of aneurism , I believe . "

" Why did you not marry Milicent after all , Uncle ? " Bertie put in . " There , my dears , is the saddest part of the story . I Avas overcome with remorse , and never could bear to hear the subject of mesmerism mentioned asmin . Of course I had not meant to kill poor Edmund- —all I

Avanted to accomplish Avas that he should consent to relinquish all claim to Milly ' s hand . I wanted to frighten him into the belief that his marrying her Avas impossible , ancl that if ever it Avere possible , it Avould prove fatal to her happiness , and to his ; but I never dreamed of the dreadful ending of my plot , ancl the reaction upon

myself was frightful . I was taken severely ill . For Aveek ' s I lay at death's door , and months had passed aAvay before I had recovered . " I was a changed man ; changed in everything save my undying love for Milicent .

" Before Edmund ' s death I had been a man careless about religion , but now I was a poor penitent sinner , humbly trying to lead a neAv life , to fit me for that eternity to Avhich Ave are all hurrying . " The old man spoke reverentlyand his

, solemn Avords made a deep impression upon us . "And , my dears , I was still Avaiting for Milly . " TAVO years passed by . "Timethe great Restorerhad clone

, , much to soften her grief ; her SOITOAV had been a great trial to her , but oh ! IIOAV nobly she bore it . The darling , I see her IIOAV . Her face had groAvn more jiensh-e —• the cheek had lost its bloom—the smile

had grown more SAveet—the look more chastened , but her SAveet musical lauo-h was still as silvery as ever , only we did not hear it often UOAV . She knew I loved her , but she could not bring herself to think of me as anything but a friend—a brother .

" She kneAv notnmg of my magnetic hauntings , nothing of the mesmeric seances . " Poor Edmund had died of heart disease—they all kneAv that : he had suffered from it long , and then he had been subject to epileptic fits ; she knew he was delicate . "I Avas now getting into a good

countrypractice , and could offer Milly a home , but I did not like to hurry her . "Another Christmas party at Warminster , and Milly Avas invited , "Mr . Wybrants Avas the medical man with Avhom I had served my apprenticeshi

p , and he gave a large annual party . " I had never been before since I Avas a lad , but this year I had resolved to go , if only to meet Milly , AVIIO Avas staying with an aunt there , and who I kneAv had accepted the invitation .

" I had made up my mind to give her another invitation . " Would she accept mine ? " It was a merry party : young people and old people , and middle-aged people , aud children Avere there ; and it was Christmas eve .