DUKE HUMPHREY'S DINNER

(From. Harper's A r cw York Monthly Magazine.') (Concluded.)

"Every question I answer," said he, "I shall give you an additional kick for — you know tbe terms. Ask away."

" Wiiy did you part with that book ?" " Because I was starving. Because I caw my wife fainting, and dying of cold and hunger before my eyes, all the time with a brave smile upon her lips. Because I have sought for work, and could cot get it. Be cause thure was neither food nor fire, nor furniture- in this wretched hole. Because Starvation was Hupping his wings like a vulture, hoping each moment to plunge hia beak into cur vitals — for these reasons 1 sold the book ihat dear old Harry Waters gave me, and for none other would I have pro faned his gift. Now I have exposed my misery to you, sir, whoever you are, and you shall pay dearly for it. I will break every bone in your body," and he sprang like a tigpr at the short thickset man, who stood in the gloom. He felt himself suddenly seizsd by the shoulder, and rooted to the earth, as if he had been in the grip of an enoamous vice.
'• Dick Burdoon," said the thickset man, aud this time his voice was sweet and soft as a woman's, " iTou are not [going to kick me, D^ck Burdoon," for many a star Jit night, in the sileat fields, you have lain with my arms around you, and your head upon my bosom, while we talked of the spleudid thiugs we would achieve when we two went out into life haud-in-hnud.'-*

Dick trembled like a leaf, and said not a word.
