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Show NEW out the surrounding grounds so that they were ornamental as well as profitably productive. Not far distant the river Severn glided murmuringly along, looking from the distant hills like a thread of silver running through a carpet of emerald green. On an eminence above the stream rose the lofty towers of the Cathedral of Worcester, and nearer loomed the old church in the hamlet of Saint Johns, and all around the fruit orchards and hop gar- dens added both beauty and fragrance to the scene, a scene that could hardly be equaled, certainly not excelled in any country outside the tropics. Walter Delacroix, who inhabited the cottage at the time of which I am writing, was a bachelor, and had, so said Dame Rumor, been crossed in love, whatever that may mean. The only relative ever known to visit him was a nephew, who, when a child, had been brought from France and adopted by Mr. Delacroix. The boys name was Walter Durant ; he was the son of Delacroix only sister, who, while on a visit to her fathers relatives in France, had married Mr. Durant and had died soon after the birth of the boy, Walter. When Mr. Durant married again Walter Delacroix went for his nephew, adopted him and intended to make him his heir. To this end he had him well educated, and spared no means by which his mind might be expanded and his intellect cultured. At the age of twenty the young man had written several articles, which had appeared in one of the leading London papers and had been favorably commented on. His ambition being thus stimulated, he begged his uncle to allow him to visit London for a time, there to pursue his literary labor and form acquaintance with the literati of the day. To this, after much 'demur, his uncle consented, with the stipulation that he would remain single until he was twenty-fivand then, not without his uncles consent, should he marry ; if he disobeyed in this matter Mr. Delacroix would disinherit him and leave his property to some public institution, and his annual allowance of cash would be withdrawn. Walter was heartfree and devoted to his literary work, so felt certain there would be no difficulty in keeping the promise he was required to make before leaving home. But, alas for stern resolve, it was not to be, as the sequel e, ! will show. His uncle went to the great metropolis with him, and before leaving saw him comfortably installed in apartments kept by people who were without children, and so far he was safe from temptation, or so the elder gentleman thought. YEARS, Walter obtained casual employment on the newspapers, but the pay was so small that it barely furnished him with pocket money and it needed more even than his uncle furnished to enable him to keep up the style of the society he affected. He avoided female society as much as possible, fearing he might be tempted to break his word and so be thrown upon his own resources. He was not by any means fully employed, so he to do, which would obtained add somewhat to his limited income. He was an excellent penman, careful and accurate in copying, and soon had more than he could do. Rather than decline the work he advertised for an amanuensis. This, he thought, sounded better than assistant or clerk, but he little dreamt what the result would be. In the early afternoon of the day when his ad. appeared in the Times he was startled by his landlady announcing a He had been in her home lady visitor. nearly three years and these were the first petticoats that had called on him, so that his landladys surprise fully When the visitor equaled his own was ushered into his sanctum he saw she was young, pleasant looking and g ladylike. You Without any preface she said, want an amanuensis, sir, and I am here answer to your advertisement. but, and there Yes, said Walter; he stopped. But what, sir? asked the lady, in sur- in prise. I did not expect a lady to apply, stammered poor Walter. Why not, sir, you say nothing about the sex of the person whom you require, merely specifying certain qualifications ; these, I believe, I possess. 37 1893. I am a thor- ough English, French and German scholar, a quick writer, willing to work from 9 a. m. until 5 p. m. for the salary you offer. This is all you require, is it not? The salary you propose giving would be very small for a man who possessed the ability to do the work you require, but a woman could make it do. I am notamarried man, said Walter, not knowing what else to suggest to get her to leave him. He would have been most willing to engage her, but what wouldj his uncle say if he heard of it? This had occurred to his mind while she had been talking. You are a gentleman, and knowing that, I should feel no diffidence about being in your employ. I have good reference as to character and ability, and shall be very grateful if you will employ me. My mother is partially dependent upon me, and I have not been able by teaching to earn enough for our support, she said sadly and earnestly. Walter, 'thus importuned, could not and against his better judgment engaged her to commence work on the resist, morrow. Myrtle Saunders, Walters amanuensis, had not overrated her capabilities, and in a few weeks Walter began to wonder how he could get along without her if she took it into her head to leave. This was a rather dangerous sentiment for a man pledged to remain single for another two years. It was the old, old, story a struggle between love and duty, and, as usual, love was the victor; six months after Myrtle Saunders entered upon her clerkly duties she became Mrs. Walter Durant. Their only anxiety now was how to conceal the fact from Uncle Delacroix. Walter had been in London nearly four years, and every Christmas he had gone home to spend hjs holidays. Christmas was again approaching. What was he to do ? Here was a contingency he had not provided for. He would not leave his wife at such a time, and he dare not take her with him. Some plausible excuse must be found to satisfy his uncle and reconcile him to Walters absence at Christmas. Work seemed the only excuse he could frame, so he wrote, saying it was not possible for him to leave London for a short time, but he would visit the old home as soon as the pressure of work was over, but that would not be until after the new year had commenced. Mr. Delacroix spent Christmas day with a neighbor, and for the first time since his childhood, realized how happy a man, with wife and children around him, could be at such a time. But during the last week of the old year he became restless and anxious to find out what important work kept Walter in London. At length he resolved to visit his nephew and see for himself, giving him what he fondly hoped would be an agreeable surprise, by walking in upon him unexpected; little dreaming of the surprise in store for himself. Two days before the one which would usher in a new year, Mr. Delacroix arrived in the great metropolis and went at once to Walter's lodgings. He went up without being announced, opened the door wfthout first havtransfixed ing rapped, and stood when he saw that a young lady was seated at Walters desk, vigorously She did not look up, wielding a pen. thinking her husband had entered, for it was Myrtle whom he saw. She started nervously when a strange voice asked if this was Mr. Durants office. Yes, said she, and he will be back very soon, but perhaps I can attend to the business in his absence. I am his wife and his clerk also. His wife! he echoed the visitor; |