of the ship's matron and of
other persons who had been engaged on board at the date. To these Alwyn
went in the course of time. A categorical description of the clothes of
the dead truant, the colour of her hair, and other things, extinguished
for ever all hope of a mistake in identity.

At last, then, the course of events had become clear. On that unhappy
evening when he left Emmeline in the shrubbery, forbidding her to follow
him because it would be a sin, she must have disobeyed. She must have
followed at his heels silently through the darkness, like a poor pet
animal that will not be driven back. She could have accumulated nothing
for the journey more than she might have carried in her hand; and thus
poorly provided she must have embarked. Her intention had doubtless been
to make her presence on board known to him as soon as she could muster
courage to do so.

Thus the ten years' chapter of Alwyn Hill's romance wound itself up under
his eyes. That the poor young woman in the steerage had been the young
Duchess of Hamptonshire was never publicly disclosed. Hill had no longer
any reason for remaining in England, and soon after left its shores with
no intention to return. Previous to his departure he confided his story
to an old friend from his native town--grandfather of the person who now
relates it to you.

* * * * *

A few members, including the Bookworm, seemed to be impressed by the
quiet gentleman's tale; but the member we have called the Spark--who, by
the way, was getting somewhat tinged with the light of other days, and
owned to eight-and-thirty--walked daintily about the room instead of
sitting down by the fire with the majority and said that for his part he
preferred something more lively than the last story--something in which
such long-separated lovers were ultimately united. He also liked stories
that were more modern in their date of action than those he had heard to-
day.

Members immediately requested him to give them a specimen, to which the
Spark replied that he didn't mind, as far as that went. And though the
Vice-President, the Man of Family, the Colonel, and others, looked at
their watches, and said they must soon retire to their respective
quarters in the hotel adjoining, they all decided to sit out the Spark's
story.

DAME THE TENTH--THE HONOURABLE LAURA
By the Spark

It was a cold and gloomy Christmas Eve. The mass of cloud overhead was
almost impervious to such d