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the room; by this, and the princely elegance of the whole apartment, the brilliant lights, the many golden framed mirrors, the gorgeous decorations, I surmised it was the King's palace." r heard several of my companions talking, "Yes," said one, "to-night several of the most beautiful women in England are to be presented at cour-t, but the most beautiful of all, perhaps," they continued, "is Miss Mabel G. Oarrison, or America." With a start I realized that this was then to be the future of my roommate. How we would have laughed at this in our school clays, when at night study hour, during which time we were supposed to be studying in our rooms, we laughed ancl romped, every few minutes being rewarded with a gentle (?), loving(?) knock on the door, and a sweet (?) voice saying, "Not so loud, girls; if you don't wish to study, others do." It really sounded like a novel, but to use an entirely origillal(?) ex- pression, "Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction." This was an instance. But as her name was an- nounced, everyone became silent, and looking up, I beheld a vision of youth and beauty. Her manner and her dress, both were indescribable. All eyes followed her, the women's with envy, the men's with admiration. She was, I fear, a little coquette, for I learned that in a stay of two months the number of hearts shattered, hopes wrecked, was fabulous j but 1 could have told the crowns and titles that it was useless, for 1. who knew her and her one and only love, knew that a certain young man in America pos- sessed her heart entirely, and in several months she became his bride. "Happy?" you ask. Ah, inrleed yes. T did not wonder that we had come last 011 the list; for were we not always the last and together in everything, late at every meal, class, and what not? With a sigh of regret, 1 awoke. From soaring through the realms of the unknown, I returned to commonplace and earthly things. All my classmates were then living as suited them, and becoming fa.mous; some in a more moderate degree than others. But I had heard wonderful things of them, and as the voice had told me twice, "To scorn to doubt whatever 1 should hear," 1 believed everything, and if I did, why should not yOLl,classmates and readers? - - 94 -