Monsieur Le Baron.

" Bring me a mirror , Jeanette . " " Not now , Mademoiselle , wait till after . " " Noio , " said Celeste decidedly , " or I will not see the Baron . " With a sigh Jeanette placed a glass

before her . Celeste looked at herself long and earnestly . The flush was gone from her face , but it was terribly , hopelessly , disfigured . "I had lost my beauty before , but now I am frightful , " she said . " Take it ,

Jeanette , and call the Baron . I will see him . " The old woman turned away sobbing . Celeste smiled strangely . A few moments after the door opened , and the Baron came swiftly towards her .

Dropping on his knees by her chair he took her hand fondly in his . " My own Celeste ! " he said tenderly . She trembled and withdrew her hand .

" Have I transgressed beyond forgiveness ? " he said sadly . " I was blind , fool that I was ; but I have suffered bitterly . Celeste , will you not pardon me , and let me shield you now from all want and sorrow—"

" Stop , Monsieur , " and Celeste laid her hand on his , " you do not know what you are saying . " " Perhaps not , Celeste . I am so happy at seeing you that I may not speak quite clearlyhut you know surelhow much I

, y love you , and—" Again she interrupted him . "Monsieur , you forgot . The English lady . "

He looked puzzled , then a light broke over his face . " The English lady is only waiting for you to be well enough to be present , to marry her cousin , to whom she lias been engaged six months . " Celeste uttered a low cry . " I

thought—" The Baron clasped her in his arms . " Rudolf , " she said presently , " look at me , you were disappointed in me when you saw me first , I was old and plain , but I am much worse now . "

He looked at her fondly , reverently . " Hush ! forget that if you can , Celeste . I was a fool then , and saw only with eyes blinded by pride and arrogance ; forgive

Monsieur Le Baron.

me , suffering has made me fitter to receive the blessing that may still be mine . Now I see witli the eyes of my soul , and , Celeste , your face to me is the most beautiful the sun shines on to-day .- Seribner ' s American Magazine .

The Maiden's Last Farewell.

THE MAIDEN'S LAST FAREWELL .

IN THE DAY OF CREMATION . Then the night wore on , and we knew the worst , That the end of it all was nigh ; Three doctors they had from the very

first—And what could one do but die ? "Oh , William ! " she cried , " strew no blossoms of Spring , For the new ' apparatus' might rust ! But say that a handful of shavings you'll bring , And linger to see me combust .

" Oh , promise me , love , by the fire-hole you'll watch , And when mourners and stokers convene , You will see that they light me some solemn slow match , And warn them against kerosene . " It would cheer me to know , ere these rude breezes waft

My essences far to the pole , That one whom I love will look to the draught , And have a fond eye on the coal . " Then promise me , love "—and her voice fainter grew" While this body of mine calcifies , You will stand just as near as you can to the fire , And gaze while my gases arise .

" Tor Thompson—Sir Henry—has found out a way , ( Of his ' process' you ' ve surely heard tell ) , And you burn like a parlour match gently away , Nor even offend by a smell . " So none of the dainty need sniff in disdain , When my carbon floats up to the sky ; And I'm sure , love , that you will never complain ,

Though an ash should . blow into your eye . " Now promise me , love "—and she murmured low" When the calcification is o ' er , You will sit by my grave in the twilight glow—I mean by my furnace door . " Yes , promise me , love , while the seasons revolve ,

On their noiseless axles the years , You will visit the kiln where you saw me ' resolve , ' And bleach my pale ashes with tears . " —From Harper ' s American Magazine for June .-