tied up together as tight as you please. You'd best go see her, if you know where to find her.

"My cousin always has her sent for when I come," said the younger, brightly. "I can't thank you enough. Good-bye." He hurried below, to put himself in order, and in a very short time was striding firmly through the now deserted streets.

It was almost midnight when he returned, and he did not dare report then to the skipper the result of his visit, since the latter was snoring violently in his stateroom, and not to be disturbed for anything less than the destruction of his ship. The mate listened for some time at the door in the hope of a pause in the steady noise, but the skipper, unconscious of Jem's anxiety, snored calmly and deeply on; the mate finally crept off to his own bed, to dream of clergymen, fathers, and daughters, in the most perplexing and bewildering habits of marrying themselves and everybody else present, as fast as they possibly could.

He slept overtime next morning, and crept on deck rather shamefacedly, at about nine o'clock. The skipper, who was giving the men orders while they men followed his example. "Jem," he said, while men followed his example. "Jem," he said, while the sailors preserved a flattering silence, "is everything all right?" Jem's color rose with anger, for the men were smiling and winking.

"Ay, ay, sir," he answered, shortly enough; "Get to work, you lubbers, you!" This last, of course, was not spoken to the skipper. The work went on briskly all morning, and the mate could find no opportunity for speaking to the skipper. At about half past eleven the latter called him, and said, "It's about time to go after that gal o' yours, I guess." The mate thanked him, and again, as on the previous evening, hastened off, after a brief toilet.

When he had walked a while, he hailed a cab, gave the driver an account of what was likely to

happen, and then drove slowly along a certain street, with his eyes fixed on a certain girl, who, in the company of a stiff, oldish woman, was walking before him. As the cab drew abreast of them, the girl gave a little shriek, and staggering to the nearest stoop, sat down."

"Why, what's the matter, Kate?" said the old

woman.

"Her name's Kate, I know that much, now," thought Jem.

The girl groaned deeply and fell limply backward, apparently in a faint. Jem took his clew beautifully; he sprang from his cab and addressed the woman. "Excuse me, madam," he said, "but if you'll tell me where she lives, I'll take her there in my cab." The distracted woman was only too greatful to this polite stranger. He lifted the girl lightly as though she had been a kitten, and carried her into the cab. Then, before her aunt could enter, he shouted to the cabby, and the later, thoroughly interested in his patron, drove rapidly away.

The girl had revived at once, and was talking very quickly. "You did it fine," she told Jem," and it all came just as we'd planned. Poor Auntie! how scared she was! Wasn't it lucky she took a nap at your cousin's yesterday-Jem, if she hadn't taken it, what would we have done? Now we're all right, anyway. And, O, Jem," she continued," you never told me yesterday what ship we're going to, and what the skipper's name is. Father's ship's in, you know, and he's not to see me, so I brought a veil along and wore clothes he's never seen on me." She pulled a veil from her pocket as she spoke Now, tell me the skipper's name, Jem," she added, while she adjusted the veil.

"Well," said Jem, "the ship's 'The Black Swan,' and the skipper's-" Why what's the matter dear?" he asked in alarm, for the girl had turned really faint this time, and was clinging to his arm with

frantic passion. "That's father's ship," she gasped. "I ought to have told you my name. Oh, what shall we do, what shall we do?" she wailed. He'll see me, and he'll stop it, and he'll make me marry him, and— oh, dear, why didn't I tell you my name?"

The mate sat stunned for a minute, patting the girl's hands automatically. Then he spoke again, with returning hope in his voice. "Kate, dear," he said, "you've got the veil, and he won't know you, and we'll get down to the cabin, and two of the men shall be witnesses, and we'll lock the ski— your father out, and his brother can marry us quick."

"Father's brother?" said the girl. "Why, that's Uncle Ed. We'll be all right, after all-perhaps."

They were at the wharf by this time, and after the cabby had been handsomely paid, Jem led the trembling Kate aboard her father's vessel. The skipper came to meet them.

"It's all arranged," he chuckled, "my brother's down in the cabin, with two of the men as witnesses, or whatever you call 'em. I'm to give the bride away."

He led them to the door of the cabin, and Jem had just resolved to throw himself on his mercy, when a woman's voice shrieked from the wharf. "John," it rang out. “John! Cappen Thatcher!"

The skipper stopped in amazement. "Law sakes," he exclaimed, "it's my sister! Something must 'a happened to Kate. You go in an' wait for me."

Hardly had he run up again on deck, when Jem locked the cabin door. The seamen grinned. awkwardly and the minister began to remonstrate when Kate interrupted him. It took a full minute's explanation before he understood to the full the position of the lovers. Then he went quickly to work, and before the frantic skipper had heard the details of the stealing of his daughter by a bold

man in a cab, the stealer and the stolen were man and wife.

Having heard the tale, the skipper came down again, and they unlocked the door for him. "I'm sorry to hurry you," he said, "but someone's run off with my daughter, an' as soon as you two are settled, I'm goin' after her." One could see that only his duty as host restrained him.

"Well," said Jem, "we're married already."

"Good!" exclaimed the other. He shook hands. with him heartily, and then, already at the door of the cabin, said: "Come, Jem, I want to see the bride before I go." She was still wearing the veil.

The girl clung to her husband, and with all the calmness she could muster, raised it, revealing to the astonished father his own daughter's face.

He went on deck with a word, and, gaining the wharf, dismissed the cab which had brought his sister, she watching this proceeding with mingled interest and alarm. Then he went down stairs to the frightened couple, and ordered them on deck. They went without a word. Then he looked sheepishly at his sister, gulped, choked, swallowed hard, and finally said: "Mary, this is my mate, Mr. James Collins, my daughter's husband."

Betty Trier.

The Love Token.

(From the Greek.)

An apple, I, and you can guess

Who towed me here, whose heart I bring.

Quick, Kantippe, tell him "Yes!"
You and I are withering.

-J. E.

Lines.

As mounts a clear star on the muffled heaven, Balm of golden haze to the pale watcher's eyes, So thou dost rise upon my soul this even, Radiant where night other radiance denies; And sooth'st my soul upon thy glory riven, Though farther from me than the uncaptured skies. -C. E. G.