The night was singularly like that June evening a year ago, when he had been impelled to go to his mother's bedside in response to Martha's letter, but now he was following the dictations of a voice within, and yielding to an irresistible impulse which was urging him speedily through the still, oppressive night.

At last Adoni arrived at the dear old homestead, opened the old-fashioned gate, almost ran along the walk, mounted the stair and without rapping, entered. Quietly he removed hat and coat, set his grip upon the hall stand and tiptoed into the living room. It was deserted - With a strange feeling of disappointment at not meeting his dear little sister, Adoni glanced about the room, went back into the hall; hearing a voice from the kitchen rushed through the door in happy anticipation of finding Martha there - but instead, was greeted with a droll exclamation:

"For the luve of heaven, Master Adoni - did ye's drop from the sky?"

"No, Agnes," laughed Adoni heartily, "I came by boat and rail, then walked from the station."

Drying her hands excitedly on her large checkered apron, the old Irish servant grasped Adoni's extended hand and shook it with all her might, saying in her jolly way: "Faith, and it does the heart of me good to see you again, dear good boy, and all I can say," - quickly brushing away a tear that was rolling down her fat cheek. "I am jest mighty happy to see you - "

"Bless your dear old heart, Agnes, I can assure you that I dm just as happy to be home once more. But where is Miss Martha and Auntie? Have they gone out?" asked Adoni eagerly.

"Hould on now, and it's meself that'll tell ye all about thim." A broad grin was spreading over the good-natured face of the faithful old servant, who had been in their home from the time of the first born in which she prided herself upon the authority of calling Adoni and Martha her children, that she loved as her own. When Aunt Martha came to take a mother's place, Agnes felt secretly a little wounded and betrayed a slight jealous feeling, whenever the opportunity presented itself.

"Your aunt Martha wint to the village to a suffrage matin' - they are going to select officers; and your auntie was that excited about it, that

I suspect - of course I'm not really shure about it, only believe that she expects to be - Miss Prisident - "

"Wouldn't that be fine, Agnes, to have a president in our family?"

"An' faith, it would be a rale joke."

"Only a joke?" questioned Adoni, with a smile.

"She said, whin she left the house, that if anything big happened she would stay all night."

"All night, where and what for?"

Agnes shrugged her shoulders with a mischievous chuckle. "To cilibrate I s'pose, as all prisidents do and - "

"But where is Martha?" interrupted Adoni, knowing well the passion Agnes had for gossip and if given rein would continue untiringly.

Agnes shook her head sadly. "Miss Martha, you mean?" With a tone of wounded pride she continued: "Oi'm not shure where she wint - she didn't tell me - she had on that luvely shwate driss, that pink one, with all the ruffles round her low-cut nick and shlaves - "

"Never mind about the dress, Agnes, just tell me - "

"And shure, Of was jist going to tell ye that Miss Martha was playin' the piano while I was washing me dishes when - soddenly that dang cat joomped across me dishpan - oop on the cubbard, knocked your mother's best china t'apot over, smashed it into smithereens and caught the mouse - "

"Come, come, Agnes," said Adoni impatiently, "I do not care to hear any more about our old cat - I am anxious to learn about - "

"Martha, is it? And faith, I almost forgot to tell ye that she looked mighty fi'gity - jist like - when she exspicts her stylish gintlemin beau - "

"Expects who?" interrupted Adoni, visibly surprised.

Agnes stared at Adoni in confused astonishment. Then began to stammer with great embarrassment.

"And did I lave the cat out of the bag, Master Adoni? Didn't she write you all about him?"

Receiving no reply from Adoni, who dropped his eyes for a moment, she continued:

"Then faith O'i better kape shtill and prove that I can kape a sacret as will as Miss Martha - 01 really belave she wint out for a walk."

"Thank you, Agnes, that is all I wish to know. And now, if you will be kind enough to make me a cup of good coffee, I will make myself presentable after my long journey and will then wait until Martha and her friend return from their walk."

Agnes hustled good-naturedly to put the kettle over the fire. "You shall have the best koop of kaffee you ever drank in your mother's house."

"Thank you, Agnes, you can serve it in the living room as soon as you have it finished."

In less than ten minutes the good-hearted servant entered with a tray heaped with eatables enough for a half dozen hungry persons. As Adoni had not yet completed his toilet, Agnes placed the tray on a small table, arranged it all very tastefully, then left the room. When Adoni returned to eat his lunch, and saw the big spread before him he could not help smiling. He drew his mother's favorite chair up to the table, seated himself comfortably, and enjoyed heartily his first meal at home. After he had finished, he reached for an open book lying on a stand close by - glanced at the name -

The Life Everlasting.

Being a great admirer of Marie Corelli's writings, Adoni turned several pages of the book, which was unfamiliar to him - became interested, and began to read the following extracts:

"life is the Divine impetus of Love. The force behind the Universe is Love and from that Love is bred Desire and Creation. Even as a human lover passionately craves possession of his beloved, so that from their mutual tenderness the children of Love are born, the Divine Spirit, immortally creative and desirous of perfect beauty, possesses - "