FIRELIGHT FANCIES. BY WAIV SHAW. I |leam, I jlow, } Hash. I Htart I own n.f quick a changing* heart Ah any tickle lover. I hhlminer softly ou the floor, I gleam a glow uncanny ; I linger lovingly, and pour Soft light iu nook and cranny. And ovor, as I shine or fado, I tell a true life-story ; A period in the depths of shudo, The next in heights of glory. Give the fuel (my life) a stir, Note tho flames that follow oft. Bouse, dreamers, then. Do not demur; Act wisely, and look aloft. You'd scarcely deem my radiance sprung From a somber stick of wood. Nor guess the power, its fibers 'mong, For vast evil or great good. Nor think, perhaps, some flower fair, Sprung from earth mixed with ashes ; Nor that you breathe the same pure air Which helps feed my blight Hashes. And when I die. as when I glow, I tell a true life-story; I fade, the ashes full, and, lot They live in a Power's glory I Boctu Kaukauna. Wis. DO LISTEN TO REASON. Smoking tranquilly in an easy-chair ono ( evening in Juno. Major Hartwoll was roused ' from tho deep and painful rovorie Into which ho hud fallen by a stop in tho hall and a knock ou his parlor door. "Come!" ho said, and a smile lighted up Ills grave, handsome face, for both step and knock wore familiar to him. and if there was any man on earth whom lie held near and doar. that man was he who now en tered. "I was beginning to wonder what had be come of you, Arthur." stretching out a wel coming hand, which Arthur Hazard took in a warm grasp. "I have been unusually busy." and Arthur throw himself into u chair. "I've been get ting ready to leave town for a few weeks, and huven't hufd time to even think of my friends." "Then you've como to say au revoir "Yes; I'm off to-morrow by tho early train. I wish you were going with mo, Cyril." "I can't leave tho city now. Besides. I shouldn't enjoy having nothing to do. I haven't taken a vacation since I lelt tho army. Where are you going?" "To a piece called Westholt, down in Buckingham County." Tho Major started, and a shadow crept ovor his face—tho shadow oi a past sor row, tho memory of which was very painful to him. "I am going to visit the big man of tho place—Squire Drayton," continued Arthur, carelessly. "I made his ucqua ntance a few months ago by the merest accident, lie Was pleased to tuko a fancy to me, and in vited me to his place. Homo ono was tell ing me the other day that tho Squire had ono of tho prettiest daughters imaginable. So you can prepare yourself for anything in the way of news When I come back." He paused, laughing, and expecting some facetious reply; but Major Hartwoll was si lent. The shadow had deoponod on his face into a look of puin. "What's tho matter. Hartwoll? You look as If you had seen a ghost. Are you envying me my good luck?" "No; I havo no dosire to go to Westholt. I shall never go there again." Ah! Y'ou have been thoro before mc, then?" "Yes; I was once engaged to bo married to Lois Drayton." "You were? Major, if I had ivo spoken as I of the sort had illing to tell me I would not t isn't a very very unusual .. *rhen my regi ment was stationed near Westholt. and we were engaged for a year. 1 know sho loved mo; I have novor doubted that, though what followed would have led almost any man to believe hor utterly wanting in any thing approaching affection. Wo were "to be married on tho 10th of October, and the wedding was to bo a grand affair. All tho Drayton relatives far and neur were invited, and the Bquire hud prepared for bonfires, fireworks and general enthusiasm. I went down to Westholt on the morning of tho 9th and had no fault to find with the welcome I received from Lois. 1 thought I had nevei seen her in a happier mood, and we hail a long talk about our future and made nil sorts of plans, which I little thought were never to be realized. We spent a very happy afternoon in the groat, dusky parlor, and after supper the Squiro took me out for a long walk, wishing to show me some im provements he had made in drainage and parking. We loft Lois in tho hall, talking to an old woman who had come to get some medicine for a sick child. I remember that I looked back when 1 reached the yard and waved my hand to rav little girl, thinking how sweet and fair and gentle she looked as sho stood listening to tho description of the child's illness I Ah. mel I did not dream that it was our last parting—that, I was novor to see hor Renin!" "Never to see her again?" echoed Arthur Hazard, as his friend paused. "No; I havo nover seen hor since that evening. When tho Squiro and I returned to the house, a,Couple of hours lator. wo found that she hod gono to administer the medlolne herself to tho child, and on reach ing u ome again had retired at onco to her rOwtn, and had sent for hor aunt, Mrs. An drews, who had taken tho plaoe of a mother to hor for many years. Mrs. Andrews found her prone on a rug. her left hand grasping it in hor agony. Gently raising Iter. Mrs. Androws endeav ored to learn the cause <>f her pale and agi tated condition, but she would explain noth ing, simply stating that a great sorrow had come over her lib'. She simply wished, she said, to send a messngo to mo. It was that she absolutely refused to marry mo. Yes. on tho very eve of our wedding sho had changed her mind. And she would give no reason for tho change, nor would she con sonttoseomo. Hor father and aunt rea soned nnd argued with hor In vain. Sho simply wept and maintained her mysterious silence. And tho end of it ail was that I lelt Westholt tho next day, togotlier with my best man and tho half-dozen bridesmaids. Tho affair created a great deal of gossip, but no ono has ever been able to got to the bottom of it." "Perhaps Miss Drayton heard something against you." suggested Hazard. "No; that question was asked lor, and -h>- insisted that sho had not." "And you do not think hor merely fickle ?" "I know her too well to think that." "And there was no other lover?" "No. Sho hud other suitors, of course, but I was the only ono for whom she had expressed any regard." "Anl she has nover given any explanation of her singular action?" "Nevor. I see her father occasionally, and he has repeatedly assured me that she maintains her mysterious silence. They nevor mention my name to her now. Khe requested thorn not to do HO." "I wish, for your sake, I could get at tho root of the matter. Major. Suppose I try. I wilt havo a good opportunity, you see." "Y'ou can try. or course. Thank you for your Interest. But there is no reason to think you will succeed. No; I must bear i my sorrow as best I can. 1 must not hope, for hope would end only in despair." In tho train tho next day. on the way to Westholt. Arthur Hazard remembered the > story ho had heard, and ho felt a great j curiosity to soo tho heroine of so peculiar a ! tale. Squiro Drayton was tho richest landod proprietor in the largo and fertile county in which Westholt was situated. His house was a handsome, rambling building, sur rounded by trees, and overlooking beau tiful gardens, rh h pastures, and well-tilled fields. His family consisted of his daughor Lois. II Widowed sister. „a H nephew. III.) hoi. of his only brother. Arthur liked Lois ut oneo. Hhe wus it refliied-lookinir Kill 01 uhout twenty-live years of age. wllh Inrgo. sott brown ovus. an ollvo complexion, an abundance of chestnut hair, and a litho and L'rnrerui tlrr ure; but sho was shy*anl renerv.Mi and talked little, even to her father. ~ ' Arthur rather prided himself upon his ability to read character. He thought he understood that of Lois, and the fact that she had been able to keep secret for three years her reasons for refusing to marry the man she loved puzzled him very much. "She does not look like a woman who could keep a socrot." ho thought. "I should say that sho could he frightened Into utmost unything. Bhe has a weak mouth, and is credulous and timid." This opinion was strengthened us ho became more acquainted with hor, and he folt a greater desire than ever to penetrate the mystery which sun ounded her broken engagement. r rornups iieury uraytou can Help mo. - m thought. 1 And. with this object in view, he cultiva ted that youug man's acquaintance. | But the Squire's nephew proved of a ! surly, unsociable nature, and showed no disposition to meet Arthur's advunoes oven hah way. Arthur at length concluded to let him se verely alone, and turned his attention to Mrs. Andrews, who was a kind, motherly woman, fond of talking, and of a gonial, confiding nature. She ha I takon a great fancy to Arthur, and he found it easy to draw from her all that she knew or surmised concerning her : niece's love affair. But she could tell him very little, and it ! was substantially the some as he hud heard : from the Major. I "Is her cousin in love with her?" asked i Arthur, with a start of surprise, i "Yes; he has been in love with her for . yours, and has asked her half a dozen times 'to marry hini. lie was keenly disappoint ed when she became engaged to Mujor Hartwoll. but bore it much better than I hud expected. llis wedding-gift to her was as handsome as anything she received, and he could ill afford such a present, for his income is very small, and ho is partially dependent on my brother. I think lie is still bent on winning her. and probably thinks she will consent to marry him at last from sheer weariness nt his pcisistence. But I think that scarcely possible." The day following that on which ho had had this conversation with Mrs. Andrews. Arthur was walking through a Hold with the Squire, who was explaining his method of fertilization, when all at onco they wore startled by a loud "Good-morning. Squire," uttered in a clear, feminine voice. They turned, and saw a young woman standing on a low stile which separated the field from a tiny orchard, in the middle of which was a small cottago, overgrown with vines. "Good-morning, llose." said tho Squire, coldly, and then continued his conversation With Arthur. Tho young woman appeared a little piqued at being thus summarily disposed of. and tossed her head pettishly, her bold black eyes fixed on Arthur, whoso young, athletic figure evidently took her fancy. But she did not speuk again, and tho Squire soon moved away from the vicinity of tho stilo. "I hoar that Rose Ellis is back again." said Mis. Andrews, at the dinner-table. "Yos, I saw her this morning." said the Squire. "I hoped when sho went away that wo were rid of her for ever"—and Mrs. An drews sighed. "Her grandmother told mo that sho hud excellent wages and wan got | ting along well. I wonder what lias in duced hor to return." "Pure deviltry, of course." said 1 Squire. "She'll have tho whole neiglib hood by the oa- sin a week's time. R isn't happy unless she is tho central fig of a perpetual broil." | "Shoisavory handsome girl." said Ai i thur, "but of a very coarse stylo." "Her beauty has been hor bane." s j Mrs. Andrews. "Her grandmother used to bo housekeeper here a great many years ago. but lately sho has lived in a little cottage tho Squire guvo her. about a mile away. Roso has almost broken the poor old woman's heart; she has mi idea that hor beauty will puve her way into a higher sphere than that in which she was born, and in some way she manages to make the acquaintance of nearly every gon itleman who comes into the neighborhood. jThon a fuss of some kind is always sure to follow." | "I believe she would stoop to anything to gain her end." said tho Squire. "She is un scrupulous to tile last degree, and utterly without delicacy or refinement. I beg you {to avoid her. Hazard, or you may have a noose about your neck before you know it. She is extremely artful, mid her beauty and audacity make her dangerous." Neither Lois nor Henry made any remark on the subject; but. glancing at the lattor, Arthur saw that his face was sourlot, and that his hands shook as he took a cup of coffee a servant bunded him. "Evidontly ho has had some experiences of the wiles of tho fair Rose," thought Arthur, and felt very sorry for him. But. a little later, pity was changed to a very different emotion. The Squire's household retired early, as is customary in tho country, and at ten o'clock that night Arthur was on his way to his room. Aff ho was about to enter it. he saw a scrap of paper folded like a note lying just outside his door. He picked it up, and, opening it. read us follows: "Meet me to-night at tho big oak tree near the pasture-gate. I will be there at cloven, and you must not fail to come. I must and will see you." Arthur could scarcely believe that tho note was intended for himself, and yet Ills curiosity was excited, and at eleven o'clock, feeling restless and unable to sloop, ho concluded to investigate the vicinity of that old oak tree if only to kill time. As he neared tho oak tree lie heard voices raised in angry dispute. He cront elosor, and could distinguish the forms of a man and a woman standing facing each other. The woman was speak ing now, and Arthur paused, "I toll you once for all that I won't wait any longer," she was saying. In a fierce, sullen tone. "I've waited long enough. I've come back to make you keep your proiniso, and von can't put me off again with excuses. If you don't look out you'll got yourself Into trouble." "Hush! you can't be too earoful what you say," and Arthur, to his amazement, recog nized tho low. cautious voice us that of his host's nephew. "1 tell you it. will como all right if you only have a little patience. Every one says she can't live long, and when I have a little money to bless myself with you'll soo that I won t forget you. If you'll only keep quiet I'll have matters sot tlod in six mouths' time." "That's just what you said last year, and the year before, and the year before that. While I'm having a 'little patience' you'll ho getting married to I.ois Drayton. Oh, I've hud things tobl mo! There's them who watches out for me. No. you'll marry me now and we'll wait together for your cousin's money." "I toll you it would bo madness for ino to take such a stop. I oso, do listen to reason. I wouldn't come in for a cent if you wore my wife. Wait a while, and do make up your mind to go away for a few months." "No, vou can't throw no more dust iu my ovch. If you'd been hoilist and meant what pou said, you wouldn't have put mo off so lonir. And if I had known you as well throe years ago as I do now. I wouldn't have taken any part in cheating your cous in. I'd have let her marry her gentleman." "Hush, hush, Roso, for Heaven's sake! It would ruin us both if you should be over heard." "Who sto overhear mo? I rather guess there ain't many folks hereabouts out o' their beds at tnis hour." "Still, you can't bo too careful. Come, lot's walk toward tho cottago; we can talk us wo go ulong." They moved away, and Arthur heard no more. But ho had heard enough to fill him with the keenest suspicion and distrust. Was it possible that at last he had stumbled on a clow to tho mystery that hud bullied him ovor since his arrivul at Westholt? "She must have told Lois some big yarn against the Major," thought Arthur. But then lie inmembored that I.ois had doclurod positively that she had heard nothing against the ehuructor of her be trothed. He lay awake until daylight, cogitating over tho matter, and whon at last ho foil asleen it was with the determination to un ravel tho mystery at any cost. Alter breakfast ho drew Lois aside, and asked if he could soo her alone in tho libra ry. She Answered in tho afflrmutlve, look ing a little surprised at so strange a ro quust, and led the way to the room at once. Arthur closed the door and motlonod to her to take a seat on the sofa. Hhe did so, and he sat down by her side, a little puz zled how best to begin his task. Tho light rn full on hor rue. Ho could sue every change in its expression, which was uxuet ly what he desired. "Miss 1.0i5," Arthur began, "I havo not told you. 1 think, thatthc best friend I have on earth is Cyril Hartwoll." Every particlo of color forsook her faoo. a nervous trembling seized hor. and she put out her hand imploringly toward him. "lw> not speak of him." aim said, in a low. shaken volco. "I—l cannot—boar It.; ami —and it, is useless. What I said three years ago I must say now." "But 1 havo something to toll you—some thing you must hear." said Arthur. "It can mako no difference in—in any thing." she said, still in the same low. hesi tating voice. "I must Insist, bowovor, that vou listen to what I have to tell you. Miss Drayton. I assure you thnt you will not regret having done so. I did not know until just before 1 came down here what it was that had so HuUdoand Cyril Hartwell's life. I have km.wn him only a little more than two years, ami ho is not one to earrv his heart on his sleeve. But ho told me the story of his acquaintance with vou the night before i loft town; but he could not tell mo why it was that you refused to many him the very day boforo the ono set for the wed ding. -1 have never told any ono that, r never shall. It is useless to ask mo to do so. I would die sooner." -Will you not let mo t *ll him?" asked Arthur. "Will you not let mo explain to him that it was through the machinations of an artful woman that ho was robbed of his bride, and that you wore ernolly ohoutod? Miss Lois, did you not know enough of the character or Rose Kills to make you doubt " Lois started up. her oyos glittering, a deathly pallor on her lovely face. -Rose! Was It Rose?" she cried* "I never know that—l never oven suspoctod it. Mr. Hazard, how did you diseovor this? For hoavon's sake, toll mo! l)o not keep mo in suspense!" She sank back, trembling. 011 the sofa, her dollcato hands clasped in piteous ap peal. For a moment Arthur was silent. Ho scarcely know how to proceed. "Did you never suspect, then, that your cousin Henry was attached to this girl, and that it was through his influence that you were made so wretched?" he asked at length. "Henry attached to Rose!" said Lois, slowly. "Why, Honrv 1" She paused, blushing painfully. "Henry has repeatedly assured you of his attachment to yourself, you would say," suggested Arthur. "Yes. He has long desired to marry mo, even before mv engagement to—to—Major Hartwoll." "And yet. three years ago, 110 promised to marry Rose Kills. She has returned home now, determined to make him fulfill that promise. Ho has put her oIT from timo to time with tho excuse that 110 was poor, and has told her that at your death he would Inherit your money, and could then marry her. Ho tells her that you cannot live long, but that if ho married her now you would not leave him a penny, and that she must therefore have patience." Lois' pale cheeks had flushed. There was an angry sparklo in tho soft, dark eyes raised to Arthur's face. "llow have you learned all tills, Mr. Hazard?" she asked. "Will you not toll me first how Rose Ellis managed to deceive you?" "If I only dared!" murmured the poor girl, sighing. "I havo kept silent so long that now " "For your own sake—for Cyril's!" She did not speak for a moment. Her face was hidden in her hands, and a nerv ous tremor shook her from head to foot. "It must havo been from some powerful motive that you havo kopt silont so long," said Arthur, looking at her pityingly. "It was for his sake, for Ills alone," she burst out, almost wildly. "T did think of mv-.-lf at .ill. Rut. oh. I could not have his blood upon my hands. Mr. Hazard. yon will think me f