Mildred: An Autumn Romance.

open AvindoAV of his apartment—half bedroom , half boudoir—feeling the soft breezes and listening to the lovel y carillon from the Belfry of Bruges . The little camp bed he used Avas in an inner chamber beyond . There Avas a piano in this room , and he had taught himself to play a little , and used to Avander over the keys in his poor blind way , making a sad sort of music , Avhich p leased himself if it pleased none other . It had been decided that Mervyn should

prepare him for the visit , and accordingly he came up to him , and said , — " Well , Saint , old fellow , how are you to-day ? " JIarmaduke smiled sadly at the old nickname , but answei-ed , — " Oh , I am very well , thank you—very Avell , thank God , " he added gravely . " There are some English people here . " " Are there ? that ' s no uncommon occurrenceI think ? "

, " No , certainly not . One of them sings splendidly , " Mervyn says awkwardly . " Does she ? Ah , I am fond of music . " " A A'ery good-natured girl . I daresay she Avould sing to you if you like . My wife told her about yon , and she seemed interested . " " You are very kind ; but I should not like to trouble anyone : besides , the room . "

" Oh , the room ' s all right , old felloAV . We are abroad noAv , you know ; the bedrooms are more like drawing-rooms here , " Mervyn added cheerily . " Well , if you think it ' s all right ; perhaps Mrs . Knollys would come m . "' - So presently Mildred and Mrs . Knollys stole into the room , ancl the latter introduced Mildred as her friend , AVIIO tremblingly and rather pale sat herself doAvn to the piano , ancl sang Arthur Sullivan ' s beautiful song , " Looking back . " Then she sane " Once Again , " and Mrs . Knollys could see Marmaduke ' s poor sightless orbs fill Avith tears as he listened to her .

I Jinger round the very spot where years ago we met , And wonder when you quite forgot , or if you quite forget ; And tender yearnings rise anew for love that used to be , If you could know that I was true , and I that you were free Ah , Love , once again , meet me once again , Old love is waking , shall it wake in vain 1

Such Avere the words that Mildred sang to him—and strangely . moA'ed he seemed to be-as sheAvarbled them in lovely sympathetic tones thatAvould have melted any soid to tears . Mildred , glancing up and seeing the poor blind eyes filling , and the nervous fino-ers trembhng , rose abruptly , came and knelt doAvn by his side and burst into a flood of tears . Then Meiwyn and his Avife quietly AvithdreAvand the gallant officer laughed

, young quite defiantly at his Avife because she said she Avas crying , whilst his OAVU eyes were full of tears . Neither spoke for some minutes , but something told Marmaduke who it Avas and he said , — " Mildred , is it yon dear ?" " Yes . I have come to you . "

" But you do not knoAV all . " " I know everything . " " And you can forgive me ?" " Forgive you , Marmaduke ! am I not a woman ?" " The only true woman I ever met . " " Do not say so . "

Then there Avas a pause , and Marmaduke heaved a sigh—a bitter , painful sio-h ; it was sad to hear . Mildred looked up at him with such a look of love and forgiveness as an angel mi ght have given . '' Marmaduke , dear ?" " Yes . "