"And there are two others here now," cried Lady Dacre, "or perhaps I ought not to say two persons, but one and his shadow. People call him a reckless sort of a fellow--the man, not the shadow,--but I think him charming. It is Mr. Edmonson, the best whist player I ever saw." "And Lord Bulchester?" "Ah! you know them. Perhaps we are going to meet them at your house? That will be delightful." "Lady Dacre has a perfect passion for whist," explained her husband. "You will certainly meet them there if they will do me the honor to become my guests," returned Archdale. Then something that he had heard came back to him, and brought a sudden frown to his face, but it was too late to retract. So, after he had made his friends comfortable at an inn, for they were to dine before starting on their journey, he wrote his invitation and dispatched it by his servant with instructions to bring back an answer. "If the rumor I heard is true, he will not accept," he said to himself. [TO BE CONTINUED.] * * * * * FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL, MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK. The Largest, Best Appointed, and Most Liberally Managed Hotel in the City, with the Most Central and Delightful Location. HITCHCOCK, DARLING & CO., Proprietors. * * * * * BARNES' BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR SCHOOLS. MORE EXTENSIVELY USED THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN SCHOOL HISTORY. Its claims to superiority are thus referred to:-- 1. Brevity. The text, other than appended national documents and the census of 1880, makes but 303 pages; and is within the most limited period allowable for instruction in American history. 2. Comprehensiveness. Has the pith of all large histories. See example, "English explorations," pages 34-39. 3. Arrangement. By six epochs; each followed by a chronological summary, a list of choice reference and reading books, and a sketch of national territorial development during the epoch considered. 4. Footnotes. With biographies of persons referred to in text. See Columbus, page 20; Raleigh, page 36; Putnam, page 108; Lafayette, page 119; Franklin, page 127; Pulaski, page 129; Jackson, page 175; Adams, page 154; Buchanan, page 196; Garfield, page 300. 5. Dates. Given in text, and associated with that and the footnotes. 6. Impartiality. All sectional, partisan, or denominational views are avoided. 7. Maps. Elegant, distinct, and colored. See "Early discoveries," page 18, and pages 100-149, etc. 8. Illustrations. Numerous, well suited, and artistic. 9. Questions. At back of book, respecting each epoch. 10. Historical Recreations. Questions that bring out the historic biography, and especially fix characters, events, and places, in the minds of youth. _A complete index closes the volume_. Copy mailed, for examination, on receipt of $1.00. _A.S. BARNES & CO., Nos. 111 and 113 William St., New York City._ * * * * * A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATED