eyes and those harsh words from your lips. You shall see — and may God forgive what is past... And it dismayed her to watch them move off in haste, cackling in mockery and chanting:

Yesterday has written down the sins in its book — who can bring back yesterday once it is gone?

She shuddered and awoke. Evening was drawing near and darkness was settling over the world outside, but bright lights lit her house, and fragrant flowers filled its corners, perfuming and adorning it. The servants were busy everywhere, and the New Year's party for which she had been preparing all week was about to begin. The enchanting gown and the precious jewel were waiting for her in the corner of the wardrobe there — but all of it had lost its splendor.. What, she wondered, would become of her if that dream were true?. But was it not? Those hours that had stood disputing the account with her had not told it everything. They had not said how she had lost the friendship of many women because her rancor toward them left no room for understanding. Her hatred of them was palpable, and her arrogance drove her to take pleasure in provoking them.. They had not told her that her envy was the reason everyone shunned her, and that her cruelty had worked upon those around her, tinting the house and everyone in it a somber shade, so that even her children were growing up hard, knowing no mercy. They had not told her that she had lived all year on the margin of life: when the homeland called, she did not answer; when society called, she did not answer; nor did the family have any share of her giving — indeed she had not profited even herself; and these early lines on her face were nothing but proof that she had not lived the life she ought to live.

And then — had she really been happy during that year? How many times had she laid her head on her pillow and pictured an angry friend, or a neglected child, or a husband silently reproachful? How many times had a voice cried within her: you are a paltry crea-ture, whose motto is "I am a crea-

ture who lives only for herself" — "and he who lives only for himself does not deserve to live." Yes: she would see the pictures and shut her eyes against them; she would hear the whispers and stop her ears so that the voice should not reach her heart — driving it away lest it trouble her empty life. Ah! had she then, all through the year, been working against the trust of her conscience? Had she been walking toward the abyss, from bad to worse?

Thanks be to God, then, for this dream. Thanks be to God that there is space left in life, and another year that will begin in a

few hours, whose days — nay, whose hours, every one of them — will be good and generous and full of true happiness; and its hours, in the year to come, will surround her as beautiful dancers with no trace of ugliness in them.

Yes, the departing year has passed and will not return; what was written in it has been written and will not be effaced. But the fragrance of years to come will efface its trace from her soul and from her surroundings — and may God help her.

In this new spirit she stood to receive her guests at the threshold of the new year.

Tavern Candles

Beautiful to behold; no greasy matter drips from them. Their use is favored by those circles that take care to lend their gatherings a warm luster and a cheerful atmosphere, thanks to their splendid light — available in 13 quite distinct colors.

On sale in all the shops

Tavern Candles

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