man would have done, notwithstanding the late engagement between himself and Gwyn. No, Jacob Howe's heart was as loyal to his lady-love as he desired her's should be to him. His eyes wandered from Chloe's face to a group of girls in one corner of the room, and his heart gave a great bound as his gaze met Gwyn's fixed earnestly upon him. And then he thought it was his love for Gwyn that made Chloe look so lovely just then. "True, pure love," he reflected, "makes all things seem brighter and better to us, because we are better ourselves for possessing it." While he thought this, he said, "Thank you," very pleasantly to Chloe, and as the song ended, took her proffered hand and allowed her to lead him into the house. Without wanting to be so, without realizing the actual harm and danger of the course she took, Chloe Lee was a coquette. Soon after Jacob left the office of Bishop Smith, that gentleman closed his desk and the office door, and went into the house adjoining to speak with his wife. He found her rocking the baby and reading the paper. "What is it, Andrew?" she asked, laying down both paper and baby, and rising to greet her husband. Bishop Smith and his wife were still young people, having scarcely entered into the thirties. cluding plurality of wives, had been made plain to them both, by the unerring testimony of the Holy Spirit; and they were waiting and praying to be led by the same Spirit into a practical experience with it. For some time their hearts had been drawn out toward the little orphan, Gwyn, and often had her name been mentioned in their private, sacred interviews, in what manner, the following will illustrate : As Fanny arose and advanced towards her husband, enquiring what he had come to tell her, Andrew Smith folded her in his arms and smiled down upon her, though she could discover an unusually serious look in his eyes. He kissed his wife and remarked. "You were right, Fanny, about little Gwyn." "Right about her in what respect?" Fanny asked. "we The Bishop still smiled, but answered gravely, "That she is not for me." "Oh! well," said Fanny, need not be disappointed over that, for we were sure, at least I was, that it would be so; but how do you know that is a settled fact?י "I have just written a recommendation for some one else, who has gained her promise of marriage; can you guess who it is?" said the Bishop. Fanny named several of the brethren whom she knew had very exalted opinions of Gwyn, but did not think of Jacob. After the Bishop mentioned him, however, they agreed that a better match could not have been formed. They were among the devout and faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ready and anxious to learn and carry That evening, having received a out in their lives, every law and ordipressing invitation, Bishop Smith and nance of the gospel. The divinity his wife joined in the dance at Broof the order of celestial marriage, in- | ther Hillon's, and enjoyed themselves as only the "Pure in Heart" can do. There were no selfish feelings in the heart of the worthy Bishop, and understanding Jacob's over-sensitive nature as he now did, he took great care not to wound him; yet neither would he show the least slight to little Gwyn, least she should be hurt by his seeming coldness. Watching his opportunity, he chose Gwyn for his partner in a quadrille where he could place her between himself and Jacob, who danced in that set with his sister, Mrs. Hillon. Every one in the Ward knew that Gwyn would have been sweetly welcomed into Bishop Smith's family as one of its cherished members, not only by the Bishop himself, but also by his wife and little ones. And the generous and immediate surrender of the kind-hearted "father of the Ward," in favor of Jacob Howe, was taken as a noble example to all the other gentlemen who had sought the favor of little Gwyn; and, to their honor be it said, they carefully followed that kind and wise example. Jacob had acted with more wisdom than he realized in confessing his jealous feelings to his Bishop; though he did not call it jealousy, nor know that that was the proper name for it. The prayer offered up by himself and Gwyn had been answered. more intimately acquainted with each other. They made preparations to attend the October Conference, and on the second day of that month, they entered into the house of the Lord, and by His chosen servant, were united as one for time and eternity. A year passed, a brief, joyous year to Jacob and Gwyn; and then the best and brightest day they had yet known, dawned upon them; the dearest and most sacred gift they had ever received was given them of God in the form of a beautiful baby boy. How wonderfully bright and knowing the little Jacob soon proved himself to be. It was not Jacob and Gwyn that said so, it was the verdict of all who saw the little darling that he was one of the smartest, sweetest and best babies that ever could have been born on earth. [TO BE CONTINUED.] AN APOLOGY. LULA. DID I stay too long in the school room Forgive me, my mother and sisters, The children were hard to manage, It seemed they could think of nothing And after the lessons were ended And must I think I should have been Smithfield, June, 1869. M THE WESTERN BOOM. [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22.] CHAPTER VII. RS. Lawson had never looked with an eye of favor upon the proposed ball, and felt a positive aversion to it now. She believed herself to be selfish in considering only her own feelings in the matter, and so consented very reluctantly to go, but nothing would induce her to go up in town for the dress again. Her husband selected one for her himself, and was neither niggardly in quality nor quantity. He loved his wife very dearly and he had a certain pride to gratify apart from his love. He knew that a welldressed and handsome wife was a good advertisement for a business man. Perhaps he had never quite thought of it in that light, but he as well as the world at large, are sure to judge you, more or less by the display you make of fine clothes, rich jewels, and elegant leisure. Democratic America has more than a title of aristocratic sentiment, and there are many of the spoiled daughters of fashion, -chained slaves of senseless customs who understand quite well that they are advertisements, and are quite content to be that, provided want and misery are kept far from them. Mr. Lawson's choice of a dress fell upon a piece of corn colored satin, thick and rich and lustrous. He took the wrapper from it and slipped its shining folds in glittering heaps over his wife's lap, and noted the flutter of admiration, the dainty touch of appreciation that she bestowed upon it, with satisfaction. In spite of Mrs. Lawson's blue eyes and exquisitely fair complexion, the blonde lace trimmings, and pearl-like beads toned down the high color, and, she really looked very well; but it was not a color she would have chosen. The dress-maker came, and there were grave consultations as to where this plait should be placed, and at just what angle this fold should cross the skirt. There were endless fittings and drapings, and the dress-maker insisted on drawing her corset up until she could hardly breathe, assuring poor Mrs. Lawson that she was really a vulgar size around the waist. At last it was completed and the dress-maker pocketed her twenty-five dollars, pronounced the dress a real beauty, and departed. The beautiful costume, complete in every detail, lay in shimmering beauty on the bed. Mrs. Lawson still a bride, looked at its shining folds and frosty laces. She felt no thrill of the innocent pleasure that had stirred her pulses, when as a girl in the far away home, she had donned her simple muslin, through which shone just a mist of the sound rosy flesh of neck and arms, and dainty underwear, her hair in ringlets, and a wreath of carnations in lieu of a bonnet. She could not help counting the cost; she had been brought up to care fully consider the expenditure of every dollar; for although her father was moderately well-to-do, he had always spoken and acted as if he were but the steward of his wealth and that what his family did not need belonged to the poor in Zion, and to temple building; to educational institutions and an endless array of benevolent and praiseworthy enterprises. He had exhorted them to let their "adornments be the workmanship of their own hands;" and had insisted that they should always "dress as become daughters of Zion, not following after the vain and foolish fashions of the world." She had secretly derided his sentiments, and wished that she had been born anywhere else, and to almost any other kind of parents. She had longed passionately for beautiful, clothes, magnificent jewels, a grand passion, and a tragic end. Here before her, lay the first installment of her heart's desire, and, like the sick child upon whom the dainties it longed for in health, are freely lavished; the appetite to enjoy had departed, and she could not call up even a semblance of it. More than a hundred dollars, she thought guiltily, to adorn my body for an evening, and it might have saved Mr. and Mrs. Andrew's from starvation, despair and death! She felt that those two dead faces would haunt her until life departed, and she sank down into a chair and clasped her hands about her knees and stared into space, while tears slowly coursed down her cheeks. never ask her to go out with him again, but let her stay at home and be a "wet-blanket" if nothing else would do her. He wondered what she had done with the sunshiny smiles, the gay animation of other days, and examining his own conduct toward her, by the standard of his world, and the torch of self-esteem, he found that it had been exceptionally good. She saw his displeasure and hastened to make amends, by trying to be cheerful. She wound her arm around his neck and laid her face upon his breast. In spite of all his faults she loved him, and clung to that only the more desperately as she felt other desires losing flavor. Any demonstration of affection from her always pleased him and restored his good nature immediately. "What is the matter, dear one," he said clasping her close in his arms and kissing the brow where the brown hair fell either way, her face being hidden in his bosom; "didn't the dressmaker do the work to suit you, or is there still something lacking in the completeness of this wonderful robe?" "Oh, no," she replied, "it is perfect, and perfectly bewildering. I fear I will be sadly out of place tonight among all your fine friends. Remember, William, this is my very first real ball, and are you quite prepared for the small blunders I shall make, and can you bear for my sake the awkwardness I shall no doubt be guilty of?" she asked in appealing tones. "Nonsense, don't get the idea into your head that anybody is watching you, and the rest is easy enough. You are a lady in the very truest and best sense of the word, and I could trust you to do me honor before a king." It was thus her husband found her, and he was not any too well pleased. He was angry, in fact, and had a mind to go to the ball without her; and | He thought that the fear she had ex pressed, had been the cause of the fit of tearful abstraction in which he had found her, and he was so glad it was not another tramp that his good nature and indulgent fondness fairly overflowed. A letter from her folks in Utah lay in his breast pocket and he resolved, while she lay in his arms and he kissed her lips and clasped her small hand in his, that he would not give it to her until the next morning, lest the vibration of a chord should banish the sunshine, and bring the ever ready tears that he was beginning to dread. "That was the beginning of the end." She was learning to crush back sorrow into her soul, to feed upon the vitality of her youth, that he might not see it and be annoyed, and he congratulated himself, that because he could not see it, that it did not exist; and to deceive her (for her own good) to decide what was good for her, and take away her womanhood and treat her like a child. own life But in spite of that, every soul weaves the fabric of his from the material furnished by the Master, and no other can change or mar it much. Mrs. Lawson thought, though she did not speak it aloud, that she had much rather appear before the mighty ones of the earth, than some of the vulgar, rich people she had met since leaving Utah. Her husband pronounced her perfectly lovely when the last touches had been given to her toilet, with the exception of the colorless cheeks; and he insisted on her drinking a glass of wine before leaving home. It was late when they entered the ball room, as Mrs. Lawson had pur posely delayed their departure as long as possible. Could she only have known that the gentlemen who clustered about her, soliciting the honor of a dance, fanning her, running for ices and treating her with all the deference that could have been accorded to a princess of the blood, had discussed her the evening before at their club rooms as a very probable source of fine amusement, and laid wagers with each other about her costume, conversational powers, dancing, and capacity for swallowing flattery in unheard-of quantities, she would never have been able to get through the evening so creditably. As it was, she accepted them and their kindness as due to their respect for her husband, and treated them with a sweet graciousness that was very taking, a modesty they were unaccustomed to, and a sincerity that put affectation to shame. The ladies, including her hostess, received her with open arms, complimented her upon her appearance and her conquests, and said so many sugared nothings that to Mrs. Lawson's straightforward nature meant so much and to them was worse than nothing. As soon as a gentleman led her away to dance they clustered together and began to criticise the strange bird. "What wretched taste!" exclaimed a fair, angular girl in sea green tulle and surah, "Corn color on a blonde!" "She doesn't dance like anything I ever saw in my life before," said a handsome, dark woman in black velvet and diamonds, turning her head object of their comment as she passed critically on one side and watching the them in the slow, smooth evolutions of a popular waltz. "Her hair and complexion are re |