Conceded

IE "VVORLD slept Hearts, confident of the morrow'a dawn -the dawning of a in-w year- gave themselves to the plaeid repose of slumber. uncaring that the f riend who had given them of his best aud utmost should draw his last weary breatta whüe they, ungratefuland ungriovinpr, dreamed through his dying throes. The purple gleam of d o v n y. moonless night drew its velvet folds close about the quiet rcctory- the guieter little church near by; about the winter grass of the natural lawn ; about the crisp foliage oí the magnolia trees nestlinft close to the gray church walls. In the wide oaken hall at the rectory, a dim night-lamp sullied with steady misty beam- placed theie by mother-hand to light home the first-born from his New Year eva reveis ; revealin g in its vague glow the gray walls with their black-franied engravings, the polished fioor with its lamb-skin rups, the wide winding stairway with its lustrous balustrade. It was like a dream picture, so still, so dim ; and like a dream form, presently, some one- a slender, cloak-eurtained some one - caine stepping down the shallow stairs. At the first landing sho paused, looked over and listened. A white hand clasped the dark cloak at her throat like a milk-fair pearl. Two Ups, pale pink as the inner surface of a sea shell, were gravely pursed together with anxious yet subtly mirthful curves; and two eyes, dusky as the night, yet Ut as the hall was with a lurking glow, pcered open-lidded and eager from a face as warmly pallid as the enaste head carved on a pink cameo. It yet lacked tliirty minutes of twelve; and, mindful of the fleeing moments of that half-hour of grace, Audrien tipped on delicate feet down the second flight of steps, through the hall to the front door. It had been left unlocked for John ; and for fear that, coming in her absence, John might fasten her out, she slid the key from its socket, turned the bolt and stepped forth Into the velvet darkness. Waiting a few moments on the porch till her wide eyes had learned to penétrate a space round her in the gloom, she went cautiouslv vet hastily forward. The stars were shining hopefully at their far-away posts- the air was balmy as ouly a southland winter air can be - the scentof wet grasses and perished Ieave9 iuspiring its stillness wilh pupgent fragrance. Audrien had set her hurried foot upon the grass - facing churchward, when a sudden sound, a footfall, smote upon her attuned ear. Some one was coming from the gate- she could detect the vague biur of his moving figure against the dense blackuess behind him. In a trice sho had sped to meet him, was grasping his muscular arm, was speaking in panting, hushed whispers. "John! I'm glad it is you. 'Shl come with me. Wait, I'll teil you. To-night, when Will was here, you Wnow, he and I got to wranghng (as usual) and he vowed- because I'm so contrary and capneious and things of that Rort- that I did not love him ; and toen whenlonly laughed.deri ively.you know, he turned on me in a fury and said I iid love him, I loved him deperaieiy; that I need not try to hide and conquer it, for n turely as tlie bell of that church there uxtuld ring in the ncw year to-nitfht, juat so surely I loved him. "And I was angry, John, and retorted. Well, if that was nis test, we would abide by it, and as surely as the bell rings tonight I love him. John- the bell sha t not ring Come with me." The two figures hurried thrn, as noiseless as bats, across the dripping grass and Lnto the church porch. " Here is the key," said tho girl, still in that excited, mirthful whisper. "1 wonder can I find the look! Ah I how dark I John" - she caught his arm agaiu as tlicy stood in the black, chili vestibule- "1 musthe ijuick, for in less Ihan a half h.ur the sexton will come to rine In the new year. Why dia not Ibrine alantern - acandle - a match! Any matches, John?" " No," he said In a still whisper. it was the only sound he had uttered yet "Well- never mind. I sce b" r now. John, will iou go up but no! vill. For tmustbe who stills that too-conftdenl voice to-night. Wait for me bare, u, the ioot of the ladilcr. ÜRh! how bliKkf" A cuutious foot iipon the lpweat round- ono - two - three- "John-" vasuely, with ttiat quiek, nerV , ous laughter breaking up her soft whispet into tremulous cadenees, "I'm hon-ibli frightened. VmtearaH But"- vvith suddel reso!ve"I wilL" One- two - three morí rounds; then again that delicate brokei whisper over his head in tho utter dark. j "John, because you are so good as tobar come with me meekly, I will tell you a secret - a secret, mindl The bell shall not ring- no! but 1 tove him." A vvhispered laugh was John's only aswer - a iaugh whose faint echoes ascended; to her with odd intimation of jubilant triumph, as ií the goblins perdu in thi3 murky tower vvere weirdly deriding the words slí had spoken. She lcitered no longer now- no other whispers carne down to John waiting patiently there in the dark. A minute- two minutes- three - and bö heard her careful descendinp footfalL la, another moment she stood besido him. "Here- take it, please," said she, with delighted self-gratulation. "It is so dreadfully heavy. Where are you? Take it." "What!" said John, iu an astonishaA hisper. "The bellf" "Theclappsr," laughing. "Youknowtha. real one was broken andthis bit of iron i used in its stead. Now listen- bidé it in" the coal closet there safely- while I run to the chancol and lea ve my cloak on the rail tt, prove to Will Bennett that it was I - nona other- vvho did this thing. He will flndl# there when he comes in tbe morning (chucklin softly) to see what was wrong1 with the beli." ' She pushed the vestibule door open an4 vanished; while John, waiting a oautiou moment, set light foot upoa the ladder and: disappeared. When she had groped her way backte, tho vestibule she spoko his name softlj 'John I" "Yes." "Did you hide it?'"Yes." " Good John," and in the velvet riarkneM she ncstled her warm young body a moment against him with a movement infinttel caressing and seductive. John held har there. "Listen," said he, in that süll whisper oL his " Let us see the fun. Let us hide inf the porch there and watch the mystificaüo of old Eli." "John," delightedly, "what a beautifnl thought! Old Eli will never dare go op there to solve the mystery- he says the olij tower is haunted." "The gate!" breathed John in suddea warning; and drew the flexible form out into the dusky porch behind a thick porum bush that thickly flanked ouc side ti low stone steps. ' She lay agaiust him trembiing withlaugk-i ter and exeïtement, her warm bosorn rising in quick, soft pants again3t his side; n held hor with both his arms and waiied, with his üps upon her curling hair. A soft step- a quaint old flgure with smoky lantern- a wheezv cough. He wen up the steps, close bv them, the light lumining his rugged African features, crossedl tbe porch and disappeared in the vestibule. He had set his lantern on the threshold, and its murky light sheened mistily on the glossy leaves of the evergreen behing which those two crouched concealed ; it re vealed the whiteness of her two hand linked in fray excitement acd the gleam oí her teeth behind her laughing lip as sho peered eagerly forward. "John I" she murmured, jubilantly, in tbat one moment of waiting. John vas giizmg at her Ups. her the pale light givinje the beautiful j y of his features full to th view of any eye which might chance U look; and at the sound of her voice he holíl her close, pressing his cheek to her hair. I " Listen I" said he, aloud; and as ho. spoke. another stronger ind sweeter voioerf broke forth into merry clamor. It pealed and toned and vibrated with full throated and exultant jubilanoe, lacing and interlacing the duleet silenee oX the night with a myriad-threaded uotwork of golden echoes. Audricn had sprang to her feet, faciug her companion wilh tragic mien. Iu the mulst of the sweet glad clamor ba gpoVe. ! "As surely as the bell rings in the glad New Year, Audrieti!- as snrely!" " 1 hateyouV' cried she, vehemently, witfc oulflimg hands. Uut when tho vibrance of the last great bell-note had died frum off the still air and the first breath of the New Year siirred against the ca;m breastof the restful eartn, the eager youoff bosom of Audiicu beat out lts soft pañts once more against his sida, Br.d it was upon her wurm moutb as well aa uDon hercool hair that the kiss of her luver rested.