READY MONEY.

'So '.on are going to be married. Kate? Well i hope you have made a Avise choice.' 'o'yrs, uncle." I replied lightly; 'I know! have. Henry is to make me per fects happy.' •What has begot? aa-us the next pleasant observation that fell from Uncle Jocelyn's l'] |S- , i ~ i 'Got? uncle! I don t knoAV Avnat you mean,' I aiiSAvered. growing rosy red at the unexpected inquiry. 'What are Ins means'.' What does he intend to settle upon y.m ?' 'He has his -business, promptly inter rupted my mother. ' And he is so clever, lie is sure to get on,' 1 added, in my eagerness to assure Uncle Jocelyn it Avas all right as regarded my future.

' That Avill depend a great deal upon you, Kate,' lie replied gravely. ' The wife has more to do in making or marring her bus band than is general y suspected, A care less extravagant, bad Avile is the greatest curse a man can have ; a good one is the greatest blessing.' ' Yes, uncle ; O yes.' I assented, glancing towards my mother, who was smiling some- Avhat scornfully. I fancied, at his opinions. ' Take care of his pence and his pounds will take care of themselves,' continued ■ancle ; ' and beware of ever getting into -debt, Kate ; it's the easiest thing to get ":iuto, and the hardest thing to get out of. Take my advice; live Avell within your means, and always pay ready money.' 'Yes, uncle, 0 yes,' I responded. 'I :am sure you are right : and Henry is so prudent, be is certain to have the same ideas.' ' Well, keep them before your OAvn mind. Don't despise an old man's counsel; buy nothing that you can't afford, aud always pay ready money.' I remember that conversation so Avell with Uncle Jocelyn, some few Aveeks before my marriage ; at the time it did not strik me so forcibly as afterwards, for my mind Avas too iillod with other and to me more interesting matters. Uncle Jocelyn was an old man, and the amount of his fortune had always been Avrapped in some obscurity ; but lie lived comfortably, and possessed a small property in Berkshire, upon which he had built a pretty and substantial house, where I had often spent many happy days. He had always shown a special affection for me, no doubt OAving to the fact of my being the daughter of his only brother, Avho had died when I was quite an infant, leaving me to the sole guardianship of my mother. Un fortunately for me. there had never been any love lost between the latter and Uncle Jocelyn ; the coolness had rather increased than diminished as years went by ; and when invitations Avere sent for us to visit Conington, Avhieh avus the name of my uncle's place, my mother invariably refused for herself, and only with great persuasion permitted me to go. However, not to digress, I had not, seen so much of Uncle Jocelyn since I had "Town up, partly on account of my mother's unabated dislike to him, partly because of the existence of a iioav interest in life. I had met Henry Arden. He was six-and tAventy, five years my senior. His position in life* was a fairly good one, lie having a small interest in a first-rate city business, which gave him over three hundred a year n his character A\-as irreproachable ; and Avhee- I say that he avus a general favorite where ever he went, it may be surmised that in my opinion he was. if not quite perfect, vei y closely akin to it. For myself, I Avas passable—perhaps a little more than that— but I was penniless until my mother died ; so it avus a very astonishing thing to me lioav so desirable a parti had fallen to my lot. He avus certain to get on—the senior partners had been known to say so them selves. Consequently, our start in life promised to be a fair one. And to be brief Aye were married. Our honeymoon was of comparatively short duration, but it was long enough to cost Henry, as I afterward learned, something like forty pounds, Avhieh was a considerable cut out of three hundred a year ; for it had not occur red to him to lay by any spare. cash for those unavoidable expenses. I had felt rather uneasy at the expenditure, but they were too early days to venture on any remonstrance, had I been so inclined ; avc were sure to live very quietly Avhen Aye once settled down, and could easily then make up for any little evtravagancc of Avliich at the outset Aye had been guilty. Vie were to live in London, and Aye Av'ere fully agreed on one point : lodgings Avere not to be thought of ; avc must have a house of our own. The prospect of possessing one jointly Avith Henry was very pleasant to inc. I pictured an endless fund of amusement and occupation, too, in furnishing and adorning it; but the mansion had still to be selected ; so our first business Avas to find one to suit us, the next to get into it as soon as possible. We must have spent a small fortune in cab-hire, before Aye found just what Aye wanted; even then, though the situation was good, and the domicile desirable, the rent rather frightened us ; it was eighty guineas a year, unfurnished, but Aye should be so comfortable in it. The smallness of its size, it was extremely small, was rather an advan tage, than otherwise, as it would, require so little furniture ; and tAVO maids Avould be am ply sufficient for our establishment, Avhieh in such a place Avould be a most creditable men age. We were delighted Avith the house, the balcony to the drawing-room being, as Aye en thusiastically agreed, almost Avorth the rent Stself ; and avc made no resistance Avhen the bouse agent, Avhomust have had some amuse ment o\;er our innocence and inexperience, fixed us for a seven' years lease, representing to us that our advantages were almost un equalled, having no premium to pay. We •consented, in consideration of all he enumer ated in favour of our bargain, to make any repairs that were necessary, aiid in fact, Avere in such delight with the avliolc affair, that the agreement, as might have been ex pected, was very easily arrived at. We knewnothing about furnishing; neA-er •dreaming of the dangers of green wood, or the inevitable results of cheap investment; thinking ourselves very acute to get hold of two furnishing lists to compare prices, beside Which, AVC sat dOAvn with paper and pencil to ■calculate lioav much Aye must spend ; and I, remembering uncle Jocelyn's advice, A'eii turedtosay that Aye resolved notto go beyond It. We came to the conclusion, that actual necessaries might be bought, taking the prices from the books, for £150, so Henry de cided on borrowing £200, with which Aye felt sure the house could be really nicely done, and this sum be was to pay interest for, un til the principal was paid off. Nothing could haA'e surpassed our prudence —before Aye set out. When Aye got into the shop Aye had selected as the one to patronise, avc found that the things we thought of Avere very inferior to our imaginings ; a trifle more here, and a trifle there, could make no difference in the sum total, and be everything in the niceness and prettiness of our house, besides which, our estimate of necessaries proved a very inadequate one Avhen nu merous etcet'ras Were declared absolutely indispensable by the attendant shopkeeper. We made apparently endless purchases, which avc could hardly remember, until they Avere deposited in Amberlcy Villa, where, with my newly engaged domestics, laAvaiied them in Avith immense delight. But vast as the importation appeared, I bad A-et to learn of the legion of wants undreamt of by us. Scarcely a day passed without some neAV demand being made, which appar ently, it was perfectly impossible to do with out. But at last 1 A\*as thoroughly satisfied with our possessions, and the servants seemed to have come to the end of their re-

quiremenfs; so the only thing that Aye had to think of was the bill, which had not yet been sent to us. I was frightened to think about, it, but Henry avus quite prepared fo ils being considerably over £200. _ Judge of our dismay Avhen Aye did receive it to find it more than twice that sum—£-1-56 odd ! There Avere dreadful entries for ' time" which in themselves Avere serious items, and upon which avc had never calculated; and our small sundries, which Aye had hardly at all

I taken into account, came to something quite appalling, But the first shock over, the offending document was thrust aside—it wouldne paid till in good time ; and for he preset, Aye both resolve to dismiss it fr »m ou minds. Friends were rapidly gathering around us ; we must receive and pay visits" soitAvasnot very difficult to banish disa greeables, and to enter with the greatest en joyment into the new life which lay before us. So things went on ; and before we had been married two years I need hardly say Aye were hopelessly and horribly in debt, To retrench seemed utterly impossible. I hardly knew where our extravagance lay ; but the fact remained, Aye were living far beyond our income ; our bills Avero never ending, and every day Aye were sinking deeper and deeper into the mire. To outward appearance, however, Aye seemed a very prosperous pair. Our house was now as elegant as our neighbors'. I bad a thousand costly little trifles lying about in the drawing-room, got from time to time, and as usual not paid for, some of Avhieh the storekeepers themselves had pressed me into purchasing. Sometimes a sharp pang shot through me Avhen I thought over our position, and I Avished AvheiiAve first set up that I had had sufficient sense to persuade Henry to do so more in accordance Avith our income than AA-e had done ; but it avus too late now ; avc must trust to some good fortune turning up. Henry had hopes that his partners meant to promote him, and if they were realised Aye should be much better off. This idea aa„s buoying us both up, and avc were feeling particularly sanguine when Mr. Trevor, the senior partner,-a peculiar man, aylio never scarcely left, his own house injßedford-sqnarc except for the office,, announced his inten tion of coming to Amberley Villas to dine, if avc Avould have him. In our anxiety to impress him favorably Aye launched out in to further expenses. He must be hand somely entertained, so much might depend upon his visit. Accordingly, I arranged a most recherche little dinner, and had the table laid out a la liusse to my entire satis faction ; when everything was completed, I Avas surveying the preparations Avith the utmost confidence in Mr. Trevor's verdict. But alas ! for Henry's hopes and for my dinner. Mr. Trevor came, partook very sparingly and silently of our hospitality, and departed without having dropped one syllable on the subject which we were so hoping he would discuss. | Some ten days afterwards, the advance in the business was bestoAved upon one of Henry's juniors, avlio had never dreamt of getting it. We were terribly disappointed, having counted so surely upon an addition to our means ; and when our wrathful feel ings Avere at their height who should sud denly walk in but Uncle Jocelyn ! He had never beon in our house since avc Avere mar- i ried. It avus, in fact, a great event for him to leaA-c Coiiihgton, but the freak had seized him. He wanted to see his old favorite, and his new grand niece, so he had come. He only meant to stay for the day ;. in the evening he intended to return home. In my inmost heart I was as fond of him as ever ; j but his visit Avas ill-timed. I could not ■ rally from my disappointment for Henry, and our cares were iioav assuming too serious an aspect to be easily set aside. I ' You have a beautiful little house, Kate,' | he said. ' I had no notion Henry was such

a rich man.' ' Hadn't you, uncle ?.'' I said, trying to laugh unconstrainedly. ' lam truly pleised to see you so com fortable,' continued Uncle Jocelyn kindly. •This room "nHist haye cost you a pretty penny, Kate ; and I daresay you haA'e a nest-egg someAvhere as Avell.' ' Oh, it isn't A-ery much,' I ansAvered, really referring to the room, but, as he thought, to the nest-egg; and imagining I meant that the latter, though of small proportions, did exist, he responded most cordially ; 'Doesn't matter how small, Kate ; there's plenty of time to make it larger." It Avas no use undeceiving him, though at that very moment an ominous envelope was delivered to me, with the announce ment that the person avlio brought it avus A\-aiting for an answer ; to which I returned the usual formula, that Mr Arden Avas out, but Avould call in a day or two. I tried to look as indifferent as possible, but I felt Uncle Jocelyn's eyes Avere upon me, and my face coloured painfully, nor did my con fusion escape the kind scrutiny. I felt thoroughly convinced be had drawn his own conclusions. Soon afterwards, iuaich was announced, and Aye descended to the dining-room, where Sophy, my parlour maid, had, to my horror, arranged some of our best china on the table, Avith tine best intentions, I knew, meaning to impress my visitor Avith our grandeur, but little imagin ing the real effect such superfluities would have upon my uncle. " Where did you get that figure ?" be asked, indicating a lovely china centre piece. " I am not quite certain," I replied, carelessly; "We have had it for some time."

" Was it very expensive ?" pursued Uncle Jocelyn. " Oh, no, not very ;.at least, I didn't think so !" I ansAvered, recollecting with a pain ful throb that it certainly had not cost us much as yet, considering Aye had not paid for it.

I need not give all the details of Uncle Jocelyn's visit. Suffice it to say that it Avas one martyrdom, that afternoon, to me ; and it Avas a posith-c relief Avhen his kind old face vanished, and I found myself alone once more. He had gone away, no doubt, thinking our lives Avere in A-ery pleasant places, feeling assured not only of our pros perity, but our happiness. Poor deceived Uncle Jocelyn ! He little kneAV that I was just longing"to throw myself into his arms, and make a clean breast of all our extraA-a -gauce, and consequent troubles. How I envied him going back to quiet, peaceful Conington ! Hoav I Avished Henry and I Avere just one-half as happy as he Avas .' Henry's position in his business depended solely upon the pleasure of the senior part ners. There Avere curious conditions in their agreement Avith him, and if they heard of his embarrassment no doubt it would in jure him greatly, and might make them consider themselves justified in perhaps something far more serious than a remon strance. O that Aye had acted differently ! that the past could be lived over again with our present experience I Once or twice I thought of confiding our Avoes to my mother ; but I dared not. In tuitively I knew that, although in his pros perity Henry Avas a great favorite with her, she Avould regard him very differently if misfortunes came, and I felt I could bear anything rather than hear him blamed, es pecially as in my most inmost heart I kneAV I Avas equally if not actually more to blame than he Avas; for noAV I see clearly lioav true it Avas Avhat Uncle Jocelyn said, that a Avife can make or mar her husband. If I had quietly set to work at the outset and advised him aright, all Avould have been well, but uoav every day brought some hate ful dun or theatening letter. A ring at the bell would cause me to start, and the sound of a man's voice in the haU parleying with Sophy was enough to make me tremble all over.

" The crash could not be staved oft' for long ; a crisis must shortly come." So said Henry one lovely Juno evening, Avhen Aye Avere sitting disconsolately discussing all manner of wild impossible schemes. It was an exquisite night; the heat of the day Avas OA'er ; not a breath of -wind stirred the deli cate blossoms of the plants aaHcli adorned our balcony, and the moon Avas rising in all her liquid loveliness, casting a clear, cool light over the scene. Everything looked calm and quiet and peaceful; the pulses of the great city were hushed ; there avus nothing to break the silence except poor

Henry's hopeless tones repeating, " A crisis can't be far off', Kate ; Avhat Aye are to do I knoAA" not !"

We fancied the amazement of our friends —the nine days' Avonder our misfortunes Avould cause, little dreaming that our end ing had. long been confidently predicted by them, and that our hospitality had been

; roundly censured and condemned by the very _ partakers of it. Still less did avc ; imagine that Mr, Trevor, so far from being favourably impressed Avith our surroundings, had gone away—-fuSy aware as hcAvas Avitli tho exact amount of Henry's income shocked and sorry to see that, Henry Anion had married a wife with so little sense and judgment; and no second glance from his keen eyes Avas wanting to prove to him how terribly beyond it AA re were living. His ob servations had satisfied him that serious embarrassments nwnst ensue ; consequently, he and his partners- had b_->toAved the de sired post and increased emoluments upon one Avho, if he needled it less than avc did, certainly understood ills value better. So no one except my mother and Uncle Jocelyn would be surprised, though Aye imagined so differently, as avc sat on and on in our pretty draAving-room, talking over the weary subject, and pondering Avhat avc could possibly do. We should have to sell oil everything, to leave Ambeiiey Villas, and to begin life over again. I can never describe the anxiety of the days that folloAved, nor tell the "agony it cost me to Avrite and tell my mother that avc were hopelessly, desperately involved, and that our difficulties Avere so great it Avas impossible for us ever to surmount them. What would she say . What Avould every body say ? Worst of all, Avhat would Uncle Jocelyn say ? For the worst had come to the worst —-our house Avas our own no longer ; a man—strange, and to me most terrible—Avas comfortably making himself at home in our kitchen—in other words, he had taken possession ! How could Henry shew his face at the office 1 How could 1 ever venture out again ? I shall never forget the tAvo days that fol loAved, and I Avrote and told my mother ; on the third, Avhen I Avas almost'sttipefield with the magnitude of our misfortunes, and during Henry's (poor Henry certainly had the hardest part to bear, for he could not stay quietly at home) absence bad shut my self up in my room, some one knocked at the door, and in answer to my very sub dued "Come in." it Avas gently opened, and not Sophy, as I had anticipated, appeared, but the familiar, friendly face of Uncle Jocelyn. "My poor cliibl!" be exclaimed—" my little Kate !" —and lie folded me in his arms Avitli all the tenderness of a father. "I. only heard of it all this morning," he said, "and I started off immediately. Cheer up, Kate ; don't grieve your old,uncle by tears. Tilings can't be past mending; and I wouldn't be here if I hadn't' come to help you." And lioav he helped.us! "Without a Avord of anger or reproach."lie listened to Henry's and my story ; Aye told it faithfully, not sparing or attempting to justify ourselves for our culpable neglect ; and when all was confessed he simply wrote a cheque- for the full amount of our liabilities. The total AA rasa serious one, but Aye Avere saved not only from the disgrace, but from Henry's dismissal from a partnership which after wards avus the means of our possessing a fortune far beyond what Aye bad, in our rosiest imaginings, ever dreamed of. By Uncle Joccelyn's advice avc sublet Amberley Villas, and retired to a more roomy house in a less expensive and less fashionable locality ; Aye sold all our super fluities, which had become actually hateful to me, and avc started once more with a small but certain income.

How much happier Aye avcic, and lioav grateful to Uncle Jocelyn it would require a far more eloquent pen than mine to de scribe. He often came to see us, and never had cause to regret the generous help he had so readily extended to us in our great need, for he saAv lioav thoroughly repentant Aye AA'ere. My mother joined in the general rejoicing over our regained happiness ; and, out of gratitude, her old prejudice against Uncle Jocelyn faded and faded away. She often goes to Conington iioav, Avhere avc all meet, a merry party, of Avhieh the generous old man is the Avell-beloved cen tre. He Avas giving me some gentle hints as to the training of my sons the other day, " For it is the mother's inlluence that tells upon the man, Kate ; it's the lesson she teaches in childhood that he remembers best." "Yes, Uncle Jocelyn," I ansAvered, "I knoAV you are rigiit. I hope, amongst the many things I desire to teach them, one especially mayn't be forgotten—you knoAV Avhat that is ?" "To fear Cod," replied Uncle Jocelyn, reverently. "That first of all," I answered, "but I meant something else." " What?" queried Uncle Jocelyn. "Never to buy what they can't afford, and always to pay ready money."

MOON MADNESS.

The popular belief that the moon's rays Avill cause madness in a person who sleeps exposed to them has long been felt to he absurd, and yet it has appeared to have its source in undoubted facts. Some dele terious influence is experienced by those who rashly court slumber in full moon shine, and probably there is no supersti tion to which the well-to-do pay more at tention. WindoAVS are often carefully covered to keep the moonbeams from en tering sleeping rooms. A gentleman living in India furnishes Nature Avith an explana tion of this phenomenon, which is at least plausible. He says :' It has often been observed that Avhen the moon is full, or near its full time, there are rarely any clouds about; and if there be clouds before the full moon rises, they are soon dissipated ; and therefore a perfectly clear sky, Avith a bright full moon, is frequently observed. A clear sky admits of rapid radiation of heat from the surface of the earth, and any Eerson exposed to such radiation is sure to c chilled by rapid loss of heat. There is reason to believe that, under the circum stances, paralysis of one side of the face is sometimes likely to occur from chill, as one side of the face is more likely to be exposed to rapid radiation, and consequent loss of its heat. This chill is more likely to occur when the sky is perfectly clear. I haA'e often slept in the open air in India on a clear summer night, when there Avas no moon; and although the first part of the night may have been hot, yet toAvards 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning the chill has been so great that I have often been awakened by an ache in my forehead, which I as often have counteracted by wrapping a handkerchief round my head, and drawing the blanket over my face. As the chill is likely to be greatest on a Aery clear night, and the clearest nights are likely to be those on which there is a bright moonshine, it is very possible that neuralgia, paralysis, or other similar injury caused by sleeping in the open air has been attributed to the moon, Avhen the proximate cause may really have been the chill, and the moon only a remote cause, acting by dissipating the clouds and haze (if it does so), and leaving a perfectly clear sky for the play of radia tion into space.

'REJECTED.'

Her little face is white Avith Avoe, Her downcast eyes are wet; She had not meant to grieve him so, At least —at least—not yet; It Avas so pleasant to be wooed ; So hateful to be Avon— Ah, why should many a merry mood End in so drear a one ! She draws the curtain back, and peers Into the AA'orld beyond ; The garden gleams in flowery tiers, And fish leap in the pond ; Behind, there is a misty hill— Hoav gray it all has grown ! Perhaps it Avas her father's will. Perhaps it was her oaa'ii. He turns aside—lie pleads no more. But goes Avith drooping head ; A man is often A\ rounded sore. Who dons a coat of red ! And so he sadly rides away, Sloavlv o'er hill and plain : But let us hope, some other day He will ride back again I

AN ARTISTS STORY.

TiiKitlc is nO doubt Ifftitf I was-a lion. I avus made to feel it wherever I Went. People nudged each other in' passing- me in the street, and whispered, '"There he is !' Pro fessed lion-hu-nt^-s fcesiegfcd nVe : ir,y rooms

were deluged with earls ; congratulations,

criticism, and counsel v-'eve oftercti me gratuitously ; lady-like mammas smiled upon m_ ; beautiful girls looked at niCAvfth interest and' admiration in" their innocent eyes ; now'and then some true' soul spoke words that wore dearer' than gold.

Some of this was A-ery pleasant";' but there were compensating inconveniences. Imprimis, my pockets Avere still Avoefully empty, for my AvOrks had brought me more renoAvn than money, and I ay.-is appropriat ing all my funds, as fast as they accumu lated, to the payment' of debts contracted' in less promising times. I longed to lift that weight from my shoulders. Artists do not borrow their tint's from the hues of earth and sky, canvas and' brushes are coarse material things, that demand an exchange of filthy lucre. So I avus still forced to work away as hard as ever.

In consequence, my popularity in society Avas somewhat embarrassing, because, to say nothing of the encroachments upon my time, etiquette prescribes a respectable attire. I brushed my best coat clear through to the lining before I could make up my mind to discard it; and as for gloves, every pair I bought cost me an unutterable pang. And then-—ah, there's the misery of it ! —it was inexpressibly mortifying to be upon familiar terms with the beautiful young girls before alluded to, aud luwe all the time a profound consciousness tint the man in the moon would have been considered a much more eligible suitor than I.

Considering all these things, I bore my self very meekly. I haA'e no doubt I Avas thought very modest that I did not roar any louder—such a remarkable lion as I Avas. I still lh'cd in my third floor, managed my oavii Aery economical house-keeping, and found the best of my life in my art.

But I have not told you how I attained my questionable eminence. I bad a picture at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Design. It Avas only a foaming Avaste of green Avaters. a, stretch of yelloAv sand in the foreground, a, bit of rocky sea-Avail hollowed by the Avaves, a dun sky, with storm clouds dying Avildly before the Avind, and loav dnAvn in the Avest a break in the gloom, Avhence a shaft of lurid light glancing out, just touched a pale, dead face lisingghastly and terrible above the tempest-driven breakers. This picture avus not an out growth of my life. I did not put my soul into it, as I had too often done before. It Avas merely an inspiration of a morbid fancy Hung upon the canvas iv a freak. But it Avas Aveird, eccentric, peculiar, and took the public by storm. It made me a lion. One eA'ening a. soiree Avas giA-en at the Derby Gallery, and several artists lent their pictures for the occasion. I lent mine ; and there it now hung upon the Avail of the gallery. I had refused to sell it; and thus at this soiree it was among the foremost attractions.

This avus a, gala night, more like a scene from some fairy tale than a real event in this prosaic, working age. Stately men, and beautiful gifted Avomen stood in groups before some triumph of art, or walked about, conversing in low, soft tones. Standing not far from my picture—l could not help hovering near it with a kind of jealous care—a bevy of fair girls passed and stopped before my treasure. ' I am so eager to see this Avonderful pic ture. You knoAV I avus out of toAvn Avhen it AA-as exhibited,' said one.

I looked at the speaker. A face like one of Titian's Avomen; hair of Avarm gold ; eyes a sunny hazel, limpid as crystal. The small bead Avas tbroAvn back, those striking eyes coolly fixed upon the picture. It Avas plain the lady thought herself a competent critic.

'It is a strange, beautiful thing,' she said, at last. 'I don'tf think I Avhollv like it—but—' \ 'O, Miss VandQTmeyer !' cried the rest, in chorus. ' I must buy it, I think.' ' Very cool, young lady. I thought. She surveyed it still more critically—this girl of twenty summers.

' It is too morbid in its tones ; but I have a nook at home Avhere it will just fit—my chamber of horrors I call it. You may see a ghost there at mid-day any time, if you like. Who is the artist? Can't somebody find him for me ?' with the air of a duchess.

There was a furtive looking about, then a buzzing Avhisper, and Miss Vandermeyer turned her eyes upon me. In a moment she Avas before me.

' Mr. Delafield, I Avould like to buy your picture.' ' I don't Avish to sell it,' 1 replied coldly. She made an impatient gesture—just a little saucy wave of the hand. ' I Avant to buy it. Hoav much do you ask ?'

The gold-broAvn eyes Avere fixed upon my face Avith a quiet audacity that amazed me. I named a sum that I meant should startle her.

' Twenty-five hundred dollars.' ' Very well. I will send my serA'ant in the morning to take it doAvn.'

I started. ' Miss Vandermeyer, I don't Avish to sell my picture.' Por the first time she seemed to comprehend me. ' Don't Avish to sell it ! What did you paint it for ? I thought artists painted their pictures to sell,' her eyes sparkling as she spoke. ' All artists are not alike,' I said, sharply, for I Avas vexed, first at her criticism, and afterward at her pertinacity.

She looked at me rather curiously, as if I were some phenomenon. ' Haven't you any more like it in yonr head?' ' I don't know.' • I should hope not,' she said, gravely. 'Why?' ' Because it wouldn't be good for you, There's something dreadful about it.'

' Really, Miss Vandermeyer,' I remarked, sarcastically, ' you are peculiar. I don't understand why you should want the picture.' ' I Avant it because in some moods I like to look at such things.' I reflected a moment

' Can you afford to give tAventy-five hundred dollars to indulge a mood ?' ' If I please,' she said, AA'ith a little saucy shrug of her shoulders. ' Very Avell, I Avill sell it to you then,' —her eyes gleamed—' upon condition that, if I choose, I may some day buy it back,' ' I kneAV you Avould sell it to me,' she said Avith an air of triumph. ' You'll never Avant to buy it back.' 'Why not?' ' Yon Avon't be rich enough. Artists are alAvays poor, are they not ?' I did not answer, but stood in haughty silence. She glanced up at me ; and then her eyes filled with sudden tears. ' Did I wound you ? I never meant to do so.' I avus mollified directly. ' I see you did not.' ' You'll forgive me, then ?' with a smile like sunshine- ' Will you call upon me to morroAv, and receive the money for the picture ?' She put a card into ray hand, and looking at me AA'ith the frankest, sAveet est face in the Avorld, said, ' Noav Avould you be good enough to take me to my friends ? I am so near-sighted I can't see across this great gallery.' ' Near-sighted—with those eyes ?' It avus very bluntly put, but I Avas no courtier in those days, and I could only hope that she would recognise the compliment, and for give the awkwardness. But she startled me. ' Yes. They don't look so, do they ?' with the most charming simplicity. I took her across the gallery, boAA'ed my adieux, and left her. Retracing my steps, I met my friend Mason. 1 Delafield, my dear fellow, what in the

nape of all fbat's Avonderfu'l hi.wey<wi been doing?' he exdaimed. 'Nothing that has any harm1 in it, I hope/ ' W_ht IhaveirS you been seen for haM an hour in close confab with Miss Vander meyer; and didn't Ton—' ' And what of it :'d 'What of it? Why .j Maw* Vandermeyer is worth five hundred tfhou&vfttl dollars '.' ' Indeed P •'And is Sim sauciest', .-severest, most lovable, mos-i provoking, little witch that ever existed-—with only one1 fault in the Avorld.' ' What is tl*it ?' ' Why, her fortune is sucl.) a> terrible bug bear. She AvautH:" be wooed former ownsweet f self ; but she knows how potent are the ! charms of gold ; and so thepaor liftbfo Circe : fe* doomed to perpetual celibacyl- iov she'll ; never dare accept anybody.j * How dreadful J What a misfcrtwine it iss to be Avorth a fortune.' Mason left me, and I suav IrinJ circling «rotund Miss Vandermeyer, in coir.pjiny Avith I _ troop of other foolish moths, aM the'rest 'of the evening; and the lady, holding her ' self loftily in her queenly grace, minded theim wot iv the least. As for me r Imiade a vow that night, sitting before insp'small fire,,-that I'd not fall into her train, or'"lose my heart to her. I Avas not going to think anymore about her,-iudbed. I found, boAvever, that? Miss- Vand'crnueycr danced before my ey?s as soon as I shut them ; and her voice, like sweet, bel_t,was all the time ringing through. my head. It being manifestly impraetb cable to fct-get her that night, I resolved*tt»» begin to de»so in the morninir. l>ut in She morning I awoke from my brief, feA-erish sleep, profoundly impressed by the new approach <_ some extraordinary evente. Upon a little reflection, I remembered that? I Avas to calC upon Miss Vandermeyer thai day. I went, and! a footman ushered me into a spacious dJsstwiug-room, where it seemed that all sorts of beautiful things were grouped in picturesque confusion. I had not Avaited half a minute before Miss Vandermeyer came in and said if I pleased I Avas to go upStairs to her den. We Avent o\-er carpets soft as moss, up flight after flight, till avc reached the upper storey. Then Miss Vandermeyer pushed aside a door, and 1 entered Avhat seemed a fairy bower. I had left Winter out of doors —-here it seemed as if Summer had been wooed to linger wM through the year. The atmosphere avus- warm and flagrant with blossoming flowers ; a soft light came iv through the ground glass, bringing out the marvellous beauty of the pictured faces and landscapes that Avere everywhere. An oddly-carved writing desk stood in one corner ; a little buhl table, witbsome pretty 'work upon it, occupied another —tokens of the strsi-mgc, beautiful girl Avho made the place her home. ' Come here,' said Miss Vandermeyer, leading the Avay across the spacious room. I 'followed, and suav my picture hung in fit company, one or tAVO Aveird faces above and beside it, aud a companion piece—a desolate moor, a Avild crag, and an eagle sailing heavily through an empty, gray sky —just opposite. ' How uo you like it;,' said Miss Van dermeyer. ' Very much. 3t could not be better placed.' ' This is my chamber of horrors. I come and sit here when I feel fierce,' she said, with an air of frankness.

' Fierce !' ' Yes. When things don't go as I like. Do not you find a great many things very provoking ?' 'I do : but you—li shouldn't think you could be annoyed.' ' Why ? Bccause'Lani rich ?' 'Partly.' ' You don't knoAVv- any thing about it, then, if you think that one can't be miser able Avith a fortune. I Avish you had it, and then you'd see/ __c said. 'I wish I had.' ' What ? What doyou mean ?' her bright hazel eyes full of surprise. ' I believe I meant? that I Avish I had a'fortune,' I said, laughing. ' Do you really ?' ' Indeed I do.' ' Noav, that is odd r "wdth a queer look in her face.

' Hoav odd ?' ' 0, they generally say that they don't value money in the- least; that they Avouldn't take it as a gift; that they prefer poverty, or at least, £x modest competence, and all such stuff—' ' They say so. Who-?' 'O, some people,' she returned, that mischievous light dancing in her eyes. '' What made you think I Avas going to tell you my secrets ?' And the little fairy Avalked 'away Avith a make-belieA'e hauteur. I folloAvcd her out from the comparative gloom of this part of the apartment into the sunshine that flowed over tho flowers and climbing plants. A piano stood open, its Avhite keys gleaming. ' Won't you play to me, Miss Vander-

meyer ?' I said. '"No !' ' Excuse me—you are not musical, then ? ' O yes, I play AveM enough ; but Avhen I I have people avlio can say any thing, I'd rather talk.' So Aye talked ; and I Avatched|her beautiful face, Avondering at its marvellous power of expression, admiring the exquisite tinting of cheek and lip/,, and the splendid gold of her hair. I put her into a fpicture I Avas at work upon that afternoon —it Avas just the face I had needed. Having this to do, of course I Avas obliged to thiink of her more or less ; but I definitely decided to begin the next day to forget her. It does seem, however, as if every thing conspires to make one forget a good resolu tion. I always did dislike combating obstacles, and Avhen I found that the fates were bent on keeping Miss Vandermeyer in my mind, I yielded gracefully, I hope, com forting myself by thinking that she must soon go out of toAvm for the summer. _ and then I could apply myself to my business without hindrance. The months drifted by. One day I received a tiny note, rose-scented, and addressed in her OAvn exquisite hand. She had gone to her country-house at Staten Island. Would I come to dinner that even ing ?—only a friend or tAVO, no ceremony, moonlight and boating ! I Avent, taking a late afternoon boat. The shining of the setting sun upon the Avin doAvs revealed the house, a roomy, quaint mansion, gabled, and half hid by luxuriant trees. Miss Vandermeyer looked fresh and lovely in her pure muslin, some jessamine sprays Avitli Avaxen flo Avers clinging about her bright, rippling hair. ' I kneAV you AA'ould come,' she said, her beautiful, smiling eyes upon me. We only Avanted you to make up our party.' ' You are very kind. Whom haA'e you here ?'

' Only my dear old guardian, Uncle Lake man, you knoAV—Nellie Darner, and Mr Fred Lacroft.' ' Fred Lacroft ?' '0, you don't know him ; but he's such a good f elloAV.' It is not particularly delightful to hear another man praised as a good felloAV by a young lady—at least, I didn't find it so. I had no doubt I should hate Fred Lacroft. He Avas sure to be a detestable snob. I felt that I had found the enemy of my life. So I accompanied Miss Vandermeyer to the dawing room, and there Avas the impudent interloper, playing chess with Mr. Lakeman, with the most assured and at-home air imaginable. ' Mr. Delafield—Mr. Lacroft,' said Miss Vandermeyer. I bowed, but scroAvled as fiercely as I could, and Avas conscious of an inclination toe throAv him out of the windoAv. ' Would you like a game of chess Avhilst Aye are Avaiting for our dinner !' asked Miss Vandermeyer. ' No, thank you,' I responded, morosely. ' What—-don't you like chess ?' ' I think it does A-ery Avell for boys,' I returned, with a. tremendous effort to be sarcastic,

I Miss Vandermeyer blushed a little, and I glanced shyly at Mr. Frederick Lacroft ; j but that indivual only stroked his mnstache and gave a low, mellow, good-humored I jiugb. tints adding insult to injury. 1 was st/onghr tempted to challenge him on the ' Afoo.mnvneame inwr*! announced dinner. I '>:; was served in a little vine-bung' balcony, tpetiing towards the riA-'er. Tito soft, syiliamcry air was all alwrt* us ; the moon AVi-^rising jm--t over the w&ter, and tlr* birds AveJS'singi ig gt'iod-nigbt Jftvfhe tall. <lnrk, tree N>ps c.'ose iW. It mig_# to have Seen dclici'tcH—lut sVunehoAv, 'it wasn't. 3tiss Nellie Damw wha placed' 'Reside him—a youngSwJy with a face like a. Avax ddl, pink cheeks, blue awes, and _"*Mb" rings flf yelloAV hair-lyi ig i>ir her white -brehead—r» style of beauty tha'A I don't aidmire. I could, however- have forgiven I»r looks if she would nAveTot mo alone. But the creature aat.uiM talk, Avhieh wfts very aggravating, considering that :v most animated by-.f-My Avas going on Sfetwecii Miss Vandernweyer and' that detestable Lacroft, Avhicb CcouM not not catcjr>tfith out giving it roy-c losest attention. He laughed a good liesil. He seemed to' iihd things very amndmg. I took my di_x,egr-in silence. I made one or two discoveries before**** left the table. I _ad_ilways thought jV_s»- Vandcrmeyer's nude" rather a nice«Bi!i gentleman ; but now I pereorc'ived that it*'l ! was an old fogy, with a rubicund nose, Aviten ' ate like a gourmand. When dinner was over, Miss Vander'-I meyer proposed a row upon the river. - Every body acquiesced. Lacroft and I took • the oars; .but it Avas Lacroft Avhotook Miss I ; Vandernieyer's shawl; and Avrapped it ■ ■ tenderly about her. 'You can sit there, Margaret,' he said. Margaret, indeed ! ' No,'she answered, Avith a little, Avilful I;shake of the head, ' I'll sit here.' And she j Silt doAvn close by me. / Then I had my revenge. Lacroft Avas I forced to play the agreeable to Miss Darner. He did it with a A-ery good grace, but I etsmld imagine his feelings. That little l_>ur atoned for my misery. She Avas beside me, her beautiful eyes looking into mine, her soft A'oice singing low songs for my pleasure. Then I undertook to teach her to vow. Delightful pleasure it Avas to see her little hands trying to manage the clumsy oar. So over those silvery Avaves Aye roAved back to the landing, overshadowed by the hnge old tree that greAv close to the river's brim, and lying in deep gloom. "While I held the boat to the Avharf, Lacroft sprang out to assist the ladies. In an instant I Avas cursing his awkwardness, for there AA ras a quick, frightened cry, and I kneAV it Avas Miss Vandermeyer who slipped and fell into the black water. It Avas only a moment's work to throw off my coat and plunge after her. Ah, how thankful I was when my darling's Avhite face came to the top of the Avater—a long Ava.y off, SAvept away by the tide, but not beyond my reach, after a feAV swift, strong strokes. They AA'ere all wild Avith joy Avhen I laid her, dripping and half fainting, on the turfy slope. ' O, my dear fellow, lioav can Aye ever be grateful enough to you? If she had been lost, I should never have got o\rer it,' cried Lacroft. The words froze me. He Avas her lover ; then I walked up to the house with him mute and miserable. I Avould have rushed away, but I could not go back to the city

Avet as a merman. I must stay all night. So Lacroft said, and so said Mr. Lakeman. Miss Vandermeyer added her persuasion. ' Do you think Aye enild let you go ?' she said softly. ' You forget Avhat I owe you.' ' You OAve me nothing—any one Avould have done the same.' I think my harsh tone hurt her, I caught the surprised, grieved look in the eyes that met mine bofore I turned abruptly away. That night, lying awake after the house hold Avas asleep, I resolved to rise early the next morning, before any one was stirring, and go to the city, leaving a note to excuse my sudden departure. So I left Staten Island, in the cool, SAveet hour of the early morning, never, I thought, to see it again. Back to my AA'ork I must go, and forget that I had ever known Margaret Vandermeyer. That Avas a gloomy day. Towards night

came a sunny gleam in the shape of a note from Miss Vandermeyer. 'Do you knoAV,' she wrote, 'that you were very rude to go away as you did this morning. You Avant to escape our thanks, I suppose ; that does not excuse you. Will you come to-morroAv, and be for given ?' There A\ rasa deal of consolation in these simple Avords, but I hardened my heart, and wrote to Miss Vandermeyer that urgent business would preA'ent my doing myself the honor, etc. What a wretched Aveek folloAved ? Who Avould have thought that this one little Avoman could have throAvn my mind into such a tumult ? I Avorried myself ill, and, conscious that I Avas looking haggard and

miserable, I would not go out, but Avorked at my easel all day, day after day. One afternoon, at the end of that Avretched Aveek, I Avas putting a f eAv last touches upon my picture, Avhicli Avas now completed, when there came a tap at the door. I opened it, and, to my inexpressible surprise, beheld Miss Vandermeyer. She dreAV back her veil, put out her little gloved hand doubtfully, and said. ' How do you do, Mr. Delafield ? May I come in?' ' Certainly, Miss Vandermeyer—l am very happy,' I stammered. ' You may Avait for me at the door, Rosette, she said, turning to the maid who had accompanied her ; and then she stepped in side my apartment, looking around Avith a curious, half-timid air. I gave her my best chair, and stood a little way off, looking at her, hardly daring to speak, lest she should vanish into thin air. My poor studio had never been so illuminated before. ' I came to see if you Avere ill,' she said, presently, looking shyly up into my face. ' You are very good. No ; lam not ill.' ' Why haven't you been to see us, then You look ill, I am sure,' she added softly. ' lAvrote you that I Avas very busy.' She lifted up one little diamond-ringed hand warningly. ' Noav, do tell the truth to me !' ' The truth, Miss Vandemeyer, Avould, I am afraid, give you little pleasure,' I said, bitterly. ' I don't understand you.' ' I stayed aAA-ay from you because I thought it AA'as best I should,' I said at last, quite desperate. A rosy flush crept slowly over her sweet face. ' Why ?' she asked,, after a minute. ' Because, Miss Vandermeyer, I love you !' The flush faded away to AA'hite, and a smile trembled about her lips. ' I thought you did !f| in a loav, cooing voice.

I dreAV a long breath. ' Then you must understand me. You are gomg to marry Mr. Lacroft—' I Avas interrupted by a quick, musical laugh. ' Why, you silly fclloav, don't you knoAV Fred is my cousin, and eugaged to Nellie Darner? They are to be married in Sep tember. ' I was silent from surpitfce. ' Is that any consolation ?' asked my tormentor, presently. I could not deny that it AA'as. ' But, then, that makes no difference,' I said, at last. , No difference ?' •No. That confounded five hundred thousand dollars of yours !' I said, betAveen my teeth. ' 0, that is it ?' with a rippling laugh. ' Yes, that is it ?' and .hardly knowing what I did, I turned my easel so that my picture faced her. She started. ' Why, that is me !' she exclaimed, her CA'es glowing. ' Did you do it ?' ' ' Yes.'

She went up to the picture, and examined it closely. ' You've made it just like me.' she said, in a gratified tone. ' I couldn't help doing, so.' 'It's prettier, too, than any likeness IYe ever had,' she added, Avftb quite unconscious self-praise. ' Will you sell'it?' | ' Not for five thousand dollars '!' . ' Not for ten thousand.' ' Not tf> me ?' coaxingly. ' Not even to you.? She sat doAA'n in my arm-chair again, her gloves lying m her Jap, her hat in her hand. her cheeks a'imson, her eyes soft and bright Avitl? excitement. 1 paced the room, fast losing my self-control 1 loved iier no. ' I wish you would leave off walking:, and . t t dmpii,' she saivly in a moment, 'iwant fj ° talk ioyou." L' I sat <loAvn instantly. ' Is this your Studio'?' glancing round.. 'My xtudio, dUiiing and receptis_ jtwmi.' ' Why <?"> you liy^so'poorJy ?' "To s,-i.A'i-r money ' ■"And thi.^is all the-home- you have?'she* saviS; Avith a\-i air of fender f®ty. ' fou neeuVt be sorry'for nose/ I replied,. hasr.jy. 'My debt-, are all paid now ; and someday.. I tfiwe say, 3;siJ*ulT 23wh? in a better style. ' Aid yet ywi wOnl_ae',£„eoe(^l ni.y fortune, she Avetit on. htr voice sbaki? _;« little. | ' Mis»- Vandermeyer--' |: ' But 3nppose r T she interrupt! $~ f'r«ippose ! I shoulo'tell yoii'lharit acver -va&s&nuich pas people thought—and ibat wikuft there I'Was is almost Ypji% lost,' —slie bcgaiw io cry jiiOAv—•' gone to ruJi in'a broken &_nfe—and that I—o, Mr.DeiMeld-^-expecfSivJUwve to me[si governess,--or., or something-- for my living—' She broki- down here, a„d(. linfJhg: her j&ce in her Lands, soibbed aljutd! J3 avus at __r" feet, caressing her shawij sliowwring llfeses upon her bright' curtsy and' oA^er v/_el_iing her with tender av«m„_. ■O, mylovj^-ray I'secibus ; darling?—y.©„ become a governess ? I Avill work lilce1 a galley slave, iJfyou love me ? It' was- ontiy that horrible fortune, but7now—-now AviMi you give yoursielf to me-?' She put botki-St* bands into mine;.smil ing through her tears, 3 don't khoAv Avliujt Ii said thou—l kaioAV I iffitfts- rafeiedi from < or trance of delicious joy by her A-oiec ' You will thhik-mo mwcenaiys—toaoeepfc you now lam poor, and would nottw-lienill Avas rich. But, _&en;:yonnever nwiied'me;." Avith sly malice. 'Dear, I won't* think you so.. Ii know you love me ; I take that SAveet: oomfbrfrto. my heart. My b kick'days are over now;: I've seen a good-1 manyyof thorny, precious* Margaret !' She faltered a- little,' her" eves- filling: again. ' But you cannot Support frwifeVcnsiiyoul?'" You are poor, you khoAA'.' '0, my dear—nct_o«A'ery pooi'.r Besides, I'm doing bettdr all the time.'.' ' Rosette—l shouJd'hever do wiSibu* lien. I don't kuoav howv to make my oavii dresses.' 'I'll find a AA'ay,' said If, trying mentally to contrive some Amy in whichf«H coui_ nineh myself, and save Mademoiselle Bosette's salary. Jrtsfcthen that personage knocked at tlie floor. ' If you j>lease, if is getting late-; though I don't mind Avaiting a reason a bid time-, yet you knoAV your uncle—' * 'I'm coming, Rosette.-. You'lFgo home Avith me, and tell my.guardihn ?'?

In an hour avc reachbd StatCn- Island. Mr. Lakeman avus sitting upon the lawn. I saAv iioav that he Avasnmice old gentleman, after all, and that his-nose AA'as not: at all more rubicund than Avas- becoming... We walked up to him. ' Uncle, Mr. Delafield and I bave decided to be married some ■ day;. We're- in no hurry. ' ' Indeed, sir, avc are in a hurry.' 'Be quiet ! So, uncEe, you'll pl-easegive us your approA'al,' said Miss Vandermeyer. Mr. Lakeman laid drJAvn his lieAA-spaper. 'My dear, this is quite unexpected ; but I have the highest opinion-.ofSir. Delafield, and IVe no doubt he Avill'make you an ex cellent husband, and know* hbAv to» manage your fortune. I shall be quite plifeased to have the charge of it'transferred1 to other hands. lam sure I congratulate you.' 'But, sir?'

' Come with me ?' commanded my tyrant. She dreAV me into the library. ' You stupid old darling—did you belie\-e that stoiy ?' ' Margaret !' I cried, in dismay;. ' I only put a case, yo_-knoAV,'" pursued the little gypsy. ' I AA'as-- affaid: I should have to tell some fibs ; bi_yyou Believed it all so easily.' I Avas dumb. ' Noav, you've promised to take- me ; but you can't haA'e me unless-you take the five hundred thousand dollars, too. Do you Avant to recal your words-?*' She put her tAvo dear hands around my neck—and I wasn't enough: of-a hero to give her up. I must confess that the-fortune has ne\-er seriously interfered witKimy happiness.

INTERRUPTED MUSINGS.

With forehead baredto wo» the breeze, I stood beneath the spreading trees, Immersed in,pleasing reveries, One summer night; The scene was one to charm, to please, A. poet Js> sight. From out a sky of clb __less blue Luna's bright orb.her radiance threAv, Silvering the tall! gum, trees, that grew Along, t_e lane; Bright gleam'd the myriad drops of dew That gpmii_ed the plain. Upon the beauty of the night I gazed with, feelings of delight ; In truth, it AV'as- a glorious sight— A fairy scene ; Words can't diseia&e its charms aright— T'Avas a_ serene. With upturned face and optics, I {J Was gazing at the moon and sky, When, just behind the hedge, hard by, A something stirred; I thought 'twas but the right wind's sigh Or else a bird.

But, as I turned around to see What had disturbed my reverie, Close past my head flew violently A heavy stick ; And then a gruff \-oice said to me, ' You hook it, quick !' I turned around and fled amain, A tall man chased me down the lane, And after many coarse, profane, And threatening speeches, He roared out, ' don't come here again After my peaches !'

T. S. Onehunga

You kissed me at the gate last night, And mother heard the smack ; She says its naughty to do so, So please to take it back. I took it back, and then said she, * You rogue, you stole another ; Please take it back.' I did, and then— I kissed her for her mother.

LONGING.

Oh, to see the new grass springing, And he not here ! Oh, to see the sun aAA-aking Another year ! To hear the soft May winds caressing The budding trees; To know that violets are blooming Upon the leas ; To see the birds return together From wandering! — The longing heart feels all its sorrow,

In the spring.

' They must haA'e a A-ery feeble constitu tion in Congress.' said Mrs. Partington, 'if they haven't got power enough among 'em to count a few votes. Why, Isaac would doit in five minutes by simple admoni tion,'