eulogy upon her friend.
She expatiated with fervour on his youth, good looks, learning, and
prospects, and with such effect did she speak that Miss King, who
began to take in the situation, ended by accepting cordially Jasmine's
proposal.

"And now, lady, you must stay and dine with me," said Miss King, when
the bargain was struck, "while my cousin entertains your husband in the
hall."

At this meal the beginning of a friendship was formed between the two
ladies which lasted ever afterward, though it was somewhat unevenly
balanced. Jasmine's stronger nature felt compassion mingled with liking
for the pretty doll-like Miss King, while the young lady entertained the
profoundest admiration for her guest.

There was nothing to delay the fulfilment of the engagement thus happily
arranged, and at the next full moon Miss King had an opportunity of
comparing her bridegroom with the picture which Jasmine had drawn of
him.

Scholars are plentiful in China, but it was plainly impossible that men
of such distinguished learning as Tu and Wei should be left among
the unemployed, and almost immediately after their marriage they were
appointed to important posts in the empire. Tu rose rapidly to the
highest rank, and died, at a good old age, viceroy of the metropolitan
province and senior guardian to the heir apparent. Wei was not so
supremely fortunate, but then, as Tu used to say, "he had not a Jasmine
to help him."

THE REVENGE OF HER RACE, By Mary Beaumont

The low hedge, where the creepers climbed, divided the lawn and its
magnificent Wellingtonias from the meadow. There was little grass to be
seen, for it was at this time one vast profusion of delicate ixias of
every bright and tender shade.

The evening was still, and the air heavy with scent. In a room opening
upon the veranda wreathed with white-and-scarlet passion-flowers, where
she could see the garden and the meadow, and, beyond all, the Mountain
Beautiful, lay a sick woman. Her dark face was lovely as an autumn leaf
is lovely--hectic with the passing life. Her eyes wandered to the upper
snows of the mountain, from time to time resting upon the brown-haired
English girl who sat on a low stool by her side, holding the frail hand
in her cool, firm clasp.

The invalid was speaking; her voice was curiously sweet, and there was a
peculiarity about the "s," and an occasional turn of the sentence, which
told the listener that her English was an acquired languag