May Mason.

work , they lived well enough , but he had a fever and died leaving her destitute . They lived in Buffalo then , and she received aid from a charitable society ; she would not go near the Masons for she had an insane idea that they would take the child from her , and , with a hope of returning

to England she eluug to her baby , drifting from one place to another , till she came to Mrs . Adams' door , half dead and wholly starved . It was her wish that after she died the child should be given to the Masons , and I asked you at the beginning , where , or to whom , I should send to find out about it . "

" Whew , whistled George , opening his eyes comically , " here is a mix ! My Anti-Masonic sister writing to a lodge , interceding with them to adopt a baby . What is the child , a boy V ' " No , a girl . '' " Oh , you ease your conscience then that

she can never be an active member . Why do you not write to Harrison , he will attend to everything for you with pleasure , " he added with a sly twinkle in his eye . " You are determined to be very disagreeable this morning , " said his sister

, haughtily , leaving the room . "By jingo , but she will be in a mess if she does not look out . Eica , of all persons in the world to have gotten interested in a Mason ' s baby ; when her Anti-Masonic views nipped in the bud her own happiness .

Bah 1 Hanison was to quick , he is not so used as I am to her impulsively ferocious way of speaking out her mind , and she generally has a mind to speak . If he had let her cool down a little , she would have listened to reason and been won to his side , easy enough . All she needs is a little guiding , she will go just as you want her to if she feels that she holds the reins in

her own hands . But it was not a case for my interference , however , it will not be a bad thing for him to know that she is interested in a Mason ' s baby . ' After this soliloquy over his cigar , George St . John wrote on a slip of paper , " Mount Zion LodgeBoston . As good a one as I know

, of . " " It is near and is the one Hugh Harrison belongs to , " he reflected as he sent the slip of paper up to his sister , and then walked leisurely down to his office , once there , forgetting the whole affair . Rica St . John was vexed enough to

have anything to do in the matter . Mrs . Adams had enlisted her sympathies in behalf of the widow and child when they first came , and seeing them often had only made Rica more and more anxious to help them ; indeed the little girl , a brown

haired pet , had won Rica ' s heart completely , and its lisping " Auntie " was very clear to her to hear . Martha Gray gave evidence of having belonged to a good English family . The history they gathered from herlittle by littlewas sad . On a

, , sorrowful life from early childhood , the husband's death fell the crowning sorrow . The mother-love seemed to have been nearly crushed out , in the year of utter desolation and destitution , since he died , andwith a faith she had never had for

, herself , she gave her baby to Miss St . John , without a struggle , saying simply , " The Lord will provide for her . " " But the Lord leaves the providing for some one else to do , " thought Eica a little bit wickedly , remembering the widow ' s

last words , with the letter , she was having so much trouble to get written , in her hand . " 1 suppose we must be instruments , " she added , a little more graciously , " but I wish He had picked out any other creature on the globe , to have been this special instrument . I can only hope Hugh will not hear of it , that is , my part . " And the letter was sent .

ten days passed , in which various communications had been received and answered by Riea from a gentleman , Mr . Gerard , by name . Everything so far was satisfactory , arrangements were all made for the public adoption of the child by the Mount Zion Lodge ; its future provided for , nothing remained but to send for the child .

Rica re-read tho postscript of the last letter , " Can a suitable nurse bo provided at S , or shall I bring one from Boston , when I come for her on Thursday 1 " To this Rica replied , " A girl that the child knows will go with her for a few mouths , till she gets used to her strange home . "

1 wo weeks from the day Martha Gray was laid to rest , an elderly gentleman knocked at Mrs . Adams' door , and asked for the Masonic baby . Mrs . Adams a little frustrated b y her distinguished early call , and not daring to even show up her valuable baby to a