Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.

former chapter , and yet I would not have missed that ecstasy for worlds ! It is no excess of modesty , that I do not possess , to say that I was for a moment awed , and could only reply to tho gentle pressuro of the hand , which endorsed her father ' s gratitude , by stammering

out , I fear very clumsily , "Believe me , no thanks are due for the performance of a duty , even towards the humblest of our race ; but "—( here I know I bungled most absurdly)—" whore youth and beauty aro in tho case , the reward is ours , and it belongs more assuredly to Fenton hero than to me . "

Jack , I confess , was moro cool under such circumstances than myself , and as Adeline extended to him her left hand , still retaining mine in the other , she spoke I thought even with more enthusiasm to him than she had just previously done to mo . ^ Our first meeting under such joyous circumstances occupied less

time even than it has taken to write this hurried outline ; but into those rapturous moments were crowded an eternity of joy for me . Was I in love ? Unquestionably , I aver it at the outset ; for had not that darling face and form been tho guardian angel of my life ever sinco I first beheld her ? Was I jealous ? Of Jack ? never ; for ho

had often declared to me that ho had no matrimonial intentions , and never should , as he had decided to go with his regiment abroad . Yet why that look of eager and passionate appreciation of Jack's prettily-rounded speech , in reply to his word of thanks ? Yes , I was in love , head over ears , and I was jealous , too , —a little !

Yet , as we parted , to minglo with the guests , I saw her glanco at the diamond on my finger , and then uplift her beautiful eyes to mine . And as she smiled so graciously upon mo , and in a sweet accent innocently inquired , " Have you worn it over since for my sake ? " I knew I had no rival in the field—not even my old friend Jack .

Diamonds and eyes , strings of pearls and laughing rows of teeth vied with each other then for the palm of lustro and purity , and who shall decide which were the winners ? * ' & = & # = ?& 3 £ The days passed too swiftly for the day dream which had found its realisation now . Each brought but an increase of deep , true ,

passionate and absorbing affection , and though tho words had not been spoken yet , it needed none but lover ' s eyes to see that tho affection was reciprocal . Why were we placed side by sido at dinner , and why did the Captain improvise so many little artifices by which to leave us so frequently alone ?

I see it all now , and from my soul I bless thee , Captain , though thou hast been long since called away to that land where all is love ! But New Year ' s Eve had dawned , and my kind host ' s secret had not yet been revealed . Did he mean the uniting of two young hearts whom he knew would love each other ? There was somethi-. g else .

And so Jack told me as we retired to rest on tho night preceding the New Year ' s Eve . We had often spoken of my becoming one of the "Ancient Fraternity ; " and although my friend sagaciously

promised that if I ever became a Mason it must be of my own free will and accord , and not by any species of persuasion , I had already imbibed a strong desire to join a brotherhood of which , even from the little I could learn as an " outsider , " I had formed the most

admiringopinion . " Well , " exclaimed he , "it is all airanged . You asked me to propose you , and I have done so . At the last meeting you were duly proposed and accepted , and to-morrow will come tho trial of your fortitude . "

Surely enough , next afternoon I was duly admitted within the portals of the Ancient and Honourable Institution in which I have sinco found so much true happiness and solace , and tho gallant Captain—I beg pardon , Brother—was never move earnest in his life than when he , with tlv assistance of the brethren , vouchsafed

tome the predominant wish of my heart . The meeting was made purposely brief , as I afterwards learnt ; being an emergency for my special benefit , and . we drove back early to tho Manor House , whero the crowning event of the week ' s festivities was to tako place . The neighbouring prntrv , tenant ?

farmers , all were there to welcome iu the glad New Year with royal honours , and as tho loving cup was passed around , the windows were flung open so that all might hear the wild bolls ringing out to the wild sky—as Tennyson has it—from tho ivy-maut ' led tower of Bickenham chnrch .

Those bells rang out a still more joyous peal in the bright June following when , on the anniversary of the Midsummer-day that I slatched dear Adeline from the treacherous river , I proudly led her f . rth from the old church , amidst a pathway of flowers strewn by the village children along the aisle , and tho congratulations of sincere and hearty well-wishers and friends .

CHAPTER IV . Twenty-five years had olap-ed , during which time more than the share of happiness that usually fa ! hi to the lot of man was mi : ; c . The same trustful heart thn . r , b : < at in fur . c to my own on that neverto-be-forgotten New Year ' s Eve had been unswerving in all the relations of life from our nuptial rlnv in dear oh ! Bickenham church

to the eclebra'ion of our silver wedding at tho Manor House . The three prattling children had grown to mnlnrity , and the two hoys are spending this Now Year ' s Eve , I fervently pray , in tho hornet of their adoption in tho colonic ;' , whero they hare been moro rmccn . ^ fu ! even than they anticipated in business . Our little dfiuirhfrr Adeline has

been not many months a br ';! -, and lies <; ono to India , will Let husband , a smart young Captain in tho —th Regiment . New Year ' s Eve had corno round again , and " my de . vrold wifo aril I "—as the boys used to ping when they wee ah home , were left to celebrate the birthday of our love ? . ; u ; we phiihk-d do . vn the gentli incline of a happy and unclouded life . Adeline ' s * mother , al-vays an

Two New Years' Eves; Or , How I Became A Mason.

invalid , had long since passed away ; but the poor old Captain , now iu his ninetieth year , still survived , and it was often our duty and pleasure to visit , him in his old home , surrounded by kind attendants and friends . Especially was this duty and pleasure observed on New Yeir ' s Eve , and on the night of which this is the seventeenth

anniversary we were on our way , per express train , to pay our VOW 3 of filial love at the shrine of the old patriarch who had ever been so loving and true to us . It was about five o ' clock in tho evening when we started from the terminus , and as usual tho porters and officials were busy with the

stream of passengers who were g in ? or arriving at the station—all on a mission similar to our own . Tho night was black and stormy , with an admixture of rain and sleet , whilst the raw wind blew in gusts against the windows of tho train as it rushed onward through the pitchy darkness .

We had proceeded , as far as I can remember—for recollection has been uncertain sinco that night—about seven miles when our carriages began to oscillate in most vehement fashion . For a moment I could see pallor on every cheek ; tho wild cry of terror still

rings iu my ears as the train leaped like a maddened thing of life from the line of rails , and I remember no moro ! Dear Adeline had clung to me in that supremo moment of danger with tho confidence she had always evinced in my proscuco ; but I never paw her again !

For several weeks I laid in the ward of a hospital , with only fitful intervals of consciousness and delirium , and not a soul amongst the medical staff ever believed I could be pnlled through . I have since learnt that I was extricated from beneath the debris of tho train , and sympathetic hands loosened tho arms that were entwined

around mo iu that embrace of death . I was terribly shattered and mangled , too , but after months of careful treatment and nursing I became comparatively whole asain , and am still able to take part in those pursuits that are congenial to me , and of which , let me say , my Masonic duties form the principal part .

I will not weary my readers with any details of the catastrophe of my life ; the columns of a newspaper , and not a simple New Year ' s story , aro the place for these . But can my readers wondor that ever since that awful night , when in tho blackness and din and smoke , tho angel spirit of her whom I

had so loved was taken , I have held New Year s Eve sacred to the dearest memories of mv life—owlives—and sit in my lonely chamber peacefnl in the enjoyment of a good conscience and a hopeful resignation , waiting for the bright Now Year which shall reunite two souls who knew of nought but true and pure affection from first to last ?

And as the church bells vie with each other all over the City , clanging a pcean of delight at the birth of another , and let us hope a brighter year , the kindly embers in the grate send gleams of recollection crowding through the mind of one who never has yet regretted " HOW HE BECAME A MASON . "

The Seventh Annual Ball in connection with the Ecclcston Lodge and Chapter , No . 1624 , will be held , at the Westminster Town Hall , Caxton Street , S . W ., on Friday . 2 Snl instant . Single ticket , 7 / 6 , double ticket

( to admit lad y and gentleman ) , 12 / 0 , will include refreshments during tlio evening , and . may be obtained of the Stewards , or of A . A . Johnston , Hon . Sec , 11 Cambridge Terrace , S . W . A dispensation has been securod for Mnsonic clothing to be worn .

At the regular mooting of tho York Lodge , No . 236 , held at York , on Monday evening , it was resolved to present an illnm ' rnteil address to Brother Sir Jamc 3 Meek P . M . P . P . G . S . W . and Provincial Grand Treasurer , who is about to leave York and take np his residence at Cheltenham .

On Tuesday > 5 ) t ! i December , at York , at an emergency meeting of the Agrinok Lodge , No . 1001 , a massive gold ring , bearing Masonic emblems , was presented by the

members to Bro . P . IVnrson , honorary member of the Lodge . Bro . McGachen P . M ., who presided , in presenting the ring referred to the valuable services that had been rendered to the Lodge by Bro . Pearson since its formation .

Bro . James Stevens lias accepted the invitation of the Selwyn Lodge of Instruction , No . 1001 , to deliver his lecture , "Knobs and Excrescences , " at the meeting to be hold on the 6 th Fobnuuy , at the East DuUviuh Hofel , East Dulwich ( near Champion Hill Station ) , at 7 p . m . Visitors will be welcomed .

The La Tolerance Lodge of Instruction , No . 538 , has removed from Morland ' s Hotel , Dean Street , to the Portland Hotel , Great Portland Street , W .