Waiting For Her—A Mesmerist's Story.

" How I love the little children . I should have liked to have had some of my own , but Providence has seen fit that it should be otherwise . I had not enjoyed it so much as I had expected . I had romped enough with the childrenit is

, true , and Ave had blind man ' s buff , and they made me blind man . Then Ave had snap-dragon , and I burnt my fingers getting out the raisins for little Lucy , Kathleen , and Alice . And after the children had gone ive had dancing , and I kissed clear

old Mrs . W ybrants under the mistletoe . HOAV they did all laugh ! Just like the old bachelor , they said . " And Ave had a nice supper too , and good port and sherry to wash it downnone of your nasty French wines . Champagne was very dear then , and one seldom tasted it in the country , except at the hall perhaps , or up at the court . But I did

not much enjoy it , for Millicent Avas not there . In the midst of the dancing I felt strange forbodings of something direful—a feeling of dread at I knew noUvhat . "The sliadoiv of a great misfortune seemed to be upon me . " " So though to outward seeming I was

the merriest among the merry , the least thoughtful of the thoughtless , I Avas sick at heart aud weary , thinking deep thoughts but very sad ; and like the aspens by the shimmering pool , I found myself ever ancl anon trembling Avith an unknown fear .

" The doctor gave me a bed , and , so feeling tired Avith my exertions and Avith playing with the children , I retired early . Mrs . Wybrants had told me casually , as I bade her good ni ght , in reply to my inquiries about Mill y , that she Avas afraid she Avas very poorly , but she hoped there Avas no danger .

" Very poorly , no danger , I muttered to myself , what was this ? I never even kneAv she Avas unwell . It Avas too late to call at the house and ask after her UOAV . My presence Avould only disturb her perhaps , and then I thought remorsefully IIOAV

happy I had been ( or seemed at least ) playing with the children , and all the while she Avas ill . HoAvever , it Avas no use to think about it IIOAV , but I determined to go the first thing in the morning to ask after herso comforting myself with

, that thought I fell asleep . "I must have slept for two hours or more ; when I awoke the clock Avas striking one .

Waiting For Her—A Mesmerist's Story.

"It was a lovely Avinter moonlight night , and I could see out of the Avindow the snow thick upon the gables opposite ours , It Avas cold—bitterly cold . " What Avas the icy blast that passed me there 1

" I looked up and saw" Milly standing at the foot of my bed , and the rays of the moon shone full upon her , but her figure threw no shadow on the floor . " I Avas not fri g htened , but an inexpressible grief came upon me . I gazed Avith awe , but Avith no craven fear upon the form , and then it slowly vanished from

my eyes . " My dears , I got up , and I fell upon my knees at the foot of my bed , and prayed the Almighty to spare her to me , 1 prayed that this mig ht not be a foreshadoAving of the end—and then afterwards I slept . In the morning I found that letter in my

room Avhich Phillip has read to you . In the morning I heard that which sent the blood back ice-cold to my heart . I heard that Milicent had died at one o ' clock that

Christmas morning . " So you see , my clears , that is the story of the locket—that is the reason I have never married—that is Avhy I am ahA'ays sad on Christmas Day . " I had loved her many years . I had done Avrong that I mig ht win her . I had

repented , but I Avas punished for my sin . I Avas Avaiting for her then—I am Avaiting for her IIOAV—Avaiting for the great day of account Avhen I may claim her again perhaps—Avaiting till then . " The old man ceased , the tears were

standing in his eyes , he slowly got up and left the loom , and Ave saAV him no more that night . Poor Uncle , his heart was so full that he could not even Avish us good night , and so Avas forced to leave us lest Ave should see the lveakness of tears . THE END .

Freemasonry Considered In Its Relation To Society.

FREEMASONRY CONSIDERED IN ITS RELATION TO SOCIETY .

BY Q . A . K . The recent secession of the Marquis of Ri pon to the Church of Rome , and his consequent resignation of the Grand Master-