dim consciousness through
any of those who inherited her blood, it was then and there that she
breathed through the lips of Myrtle Hazard. The young girl almost
trembled with the ecstasy of this new mode of being, soliciting every
sense with light, with perfume, with melody,--all that could make her
feel the wonderful complex music of a fresh life when all its chords
first vibrate together in harmony. Miss Rhadamantha Pinnikle, whose
mother was an Apex (of whose race it was said that they always made an
obeisance when the family name was mentioned, and had all their portraits
painted with halos round their heads), found herself extinguished in this
new radiance. Miss Victoria Capsheaf stuck to the wall as if she had
been a fresco on it. The fifty-year-old dynasties were dismayed and
dismounted. Myrtle fossilized them as suddenly as if she had been a
Gorgon instead of a beauty.

The guests in whom we may have some interest were in the mean time making
ready for the party, which was expected to be a brilliant one; for 24
Carat Place was well known for the handsome style of its entertainments.

Clement Lindsay was a little surprised by his invitation. He had,
however, been made a lion of several times of late, and was very willing
to amuse himself once in a while with a peep into the great world.

It was but an empty show to him at best, for his lot was cast, and he
expected to lead a quiet domestic life after his student days were over.

Master Byles Gridley had known what society was in his earlier time, and
understood very well that all a gentleman of his age had to do was to
dress himself in his usual plain way, only taking a little more care in
his arrangements than was needed in the latitude of Oxbow Village. But
Gifted must be looked after, that he should not provoke the unamiable
comments of the city youth by any defect or extravagance of costume. The
young gentleman had bought a light sky-blue neckerchief, and a very large
breast-pin containing a gem which he was assured by the vender was a
genuine stone. He considered that both these would be eminently
effective articles of dress, and Mr. Gridley had some trouble to convince
him that a white tie and plain shirt-buttons would be more fitted to the
occasion.

On the morning of the day of the great party Mr. William Murray Bradshaw
received a brief telegram, which seemed to cause him great emotion, as he
changed color, uttered a forcible exclamation, and