John's Wife.

From John ' s wife it was—a neatly-written missive , Avhich ran thus : " DEAR UNCLE MORELAND , —Will you come to me this afternoon at three o ' clock !' ' And oblige your affectionate niece , CLARA MORELAND . " "Ah ! " said Dr . Moreland to himself , " I knew very well how it would be ; I predicted it all along . She ' s going to throw herself on my compassion .

Widow , penniless—blighted hopes—and all that sort of thing . But it wont go down , " buttoning his pockets with a significant air— " I warned her just how it would be , and I shall give her to understand that as she has made her bed , so she must lie upon it . " Keziah picked up the note when she was dusting her uncle ' s library , and looked piteously at it .

You'll go , uncle , won't you ? " said she . " Oh , yes , '' said Dr . Moreland , " I shall go . " And he went accordingly . John ' s wife was sitting by the fireside , dressed in the deepest of black and looking prettier than ever . Dr . Moreland sat himself clown opposite , and looked hard at her .

" Well , said he , " what clo you want of me t "I want to ask your advice , uncle , " said the young widow . " About what ? " instinctively clapping his hands over the pocket where he kept his money . " About the investment of my money . " ' Of—your—money ? " Dr . Moreland could scarcely credit his ears . " Yesmy money ; the money I have earned by sending poetical

contribu-, tions to the various magazines and publications of the day . It is not a great deal , but it is enough to enable me to live comfortably for the rest of my life , if I can only manage to get it suitably invested . " Dr . Moreland stared . He had come thither prepared to steel himself against a penniless poor relation ; but here was John's wife entirel y independent of him—a moneyed person in her own right . And the idea that the

pale-faced Avoman should have absolutely accumulated a little fortune b y her pen , seemed incredible to him . Success is a wonderful softener of human hearts , and . Dr . Moreland ' s hard features relaxed in spite of himself . " I shall be very glad to help you invest it , my dear , " said he . "Ancl—and I really think you are a very sensible girl . And if you have not decided upon

a home , my niece Keziah and I shall be very glad to have you come ancl live with us . " " No , " said Clara serenely , " I prefer my own home . " " Is there nothing else that I can clo for you ? " asked Dr . Moreland as he took his leave , after receiving the young ividow ' s detailed instructions . " Nothing more , I thank you , " said Clara coldly . Dr . Moreland went home , seated himself before his desk , and drew a very long breath .

"A superior woman , " said he ; "a very superior woman . " What did she want , uncle ? " said Keziah . " That is the strange part of it , " said Dr . Moreland . " She did not want anything . My dear , I never was more mistaken in my life than about John ' s wife . "

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