membered that the lady to whom he had pointed out the
blemishes in her purchase, and thereby lost a sale, had never been in
the store since; but that she remembered the occurrence distinctly and
gratefully was evident. The boy had noticed the servant's livery and now
recognized it, and hoped that this might afford him some clue to the
name of his kind friend.

As soon as the store was closed he put his present in his pocket, and
started forth to show it to Blanche. Arthur was so rarely in the store
any more at evening, that he could not talk it over with him, and with
light steps he hurried to the presence of the pretty brodeuse. She had
become the light of the boy's existence, and he could dream of nothing
else. He was young to love, but his heart was older than his years, and
it gave out its affection with the strength of manhood.

"Oh! grandpapa, if you could only see Guly's gift, his New Year's gift!"
said Blanche, enthusiastically, after examining it herself.

The old man smiled, and taking it in his hand, held it for awhile and
returned it, saying it was very beautiful.

"And have you no clue to the giver?" said Blanche.

"Only what I told you."

"What did you say was the servant's livery?"

Guly described it.

"I remember a lady," said Blanche, musingly, "whose servants used to
wear such livery as that. She was a dear friend of mamma's when we were
rich, and they used to be just like sisters. Her name was Belmont--Mrs.
Belmont."

"And what became of her?" asked Guly.

"Oh, she went to France just before all our troubles came upon us, and I
suppose she is there still. She wrote once or twice to mamma, but she
was too ill to answer the letters, and so it all dropped."

Guly put up his watch, and sat conversing with Blanche until the clock
struck ten, when he took his leave, telling Blanche, as he pressed her
little hand at parting, that it was the most delightful New Year's eve
he had ever spent.

Blanche replied that she could say the same, and added that she supposed
he knew Della and Bernard had returned.

Guly informed her he did not.

"Oh, yes," she said, "returned yesterday, and have taken a house in
Esplanade Street, and are very happy I think. Della visited me,
yesterday."

Guly expressed his pleasure at the good news, and left her, and
returned home to dream of the mysterious donor of his New Year's gift
and Blanche the brodeuse.

The winter glided pleasantly away; summer passed, and w