The Broken Emblem.

Colby looked in her face and saiv it ivas no child Avitb Avboni he Avas talking . A child she might be in years , and in stature , but ber capacity for suffering could not liai'e been greater if tiventy years instead of five bad been her age ; and be IUIOAV that

her suspense Avas Avorse , if possible , than would be the effect of Avhat he bad to tell . So taking her once more in bis arms , be said , "Darling , your papa is dead , and will soon be brought here from Avheie lie Avas found last night in a dying condition . " Belle beaid but the first feAV words .

Without a groan—scarcely a sigb—her little bead leaned upon Colby's breast , ber eyes closed , and for the time being , at least , the lamb Avas beyond the leach of suffering . Colby thought she Avas dead , and taking her in bis arms be flew back to the parlourAvbere Miss Sherill and NeAvton

, were still talking of the sad events of the last feiv hours . Both started to their feet as they saAv the Avhite face restmg against Colby's shoulder as he entered the door . Miss Sherill advanced to meet Mm and take tlie child , and as he laid the lifeless body

in the arms of lier friend , lie said , " There , the Avork is completed , the assassin slew the father , I have killed the daughter . " He could endure no move , he turned and left the room . Among the guests at the hotel Aveie one or more doctors , AVIIO after being called , examined little Belle and decided that she Avas only iu a SAVOOII , and Avitb proiier care ivould soon return to

consciousness again . At one o ' clock in the afternoon , a coffin arrived from Glen ' s Falls , and the body Avas soon prepared for the grave While the clothing found on the body Avas being removed to give place to other and cleaner garmentsa small pin Avas found on the

, shirt front , of peculiar shape . It was merely a plain triangular piece of gold plate , one side only being slightly carved . On the front of this pin Aveie some broken lines , but nothing , that any one Avbo examined it could understand . The

pin Avas banded to Colby who put it away in his pocket-book , hoping , be knew not Avhat , might come from it in the future . There were many Masons among the guests of the Lake House , and a Lodge in the town . Tlte Master called the Lodge together , and after being satisfied by Newton and Colby that the deceased was a

Brother , the Lodge took charge of the funeral arrangements . At a late hour of the afteruooon , the body of Lawrence Clark was laid in the grave prepared for it iu the Church of the little village by Ms Masonic Brethren , AVIIO paid to Ms remains the honours duo to the good

and the Avortby . The clay folloiving the funeral , a council was held in the parlour at the hotel , to decide Avhat should be clone Avith little Belle . After some argumentit Avas decided that

, Colby Avas entitled to have the selection of the lie me of the poor orphan , Avhich lie quickly settled , by expressing Ms determination to take the little girl to bis OAVU home , and placing k « r in charge of bis aged Mother , and a Avidowerl , though childless

sister . Some days eiapsed before Belle Avas sufficiently restored to health to be able to leave ber room , and Avben she did so , she seemed to have lost all her former cheerfulness . She Avandered about from room to room , listlessly and Avith no apparent interest in any of ber surroundings . This determined Colby to leave as soon as possible , in order to remove lier as much as

possible , from the scenes that reminded ber so forcibly of her great misfortune . Preparations Avere soon completed , and one bright morning little Belle and her future protector bade adieu to their many friends at the hotel , and started on their bomewaid journey .

"When Colby Avas about to enter the carriage that bad been engaged to carry them to the railway station , Miss Sherill banded Mm a little box , Avliicb she said contained trinkets of various kinds belonging to Belle .

While riding along the small road , Colby tried to diuw bis companion from her mournful thoughts , and cause ber in a measure to forget ber SOITOAV . Among other means used to attract her attention , be asked lier if she Avould show Mm what

nice things Avere in the little box be bad in bis band . She readily consented , and opening the box she laid in Ms band a number of pieces of jewellery , each of Avhich she said Avas a gift from poor dead papa . There Avas nothing of much interest to Colby among the contents of the box , except a small breastpin , which Belle said papa had told her never to lose . Upon close