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This docuned "Casimir Heliobas," and bore a seal on which the impression seemed to consist of two Arabic or Sanskrit words, which I could not understand I put it carefully aith its co earnestly on its contents, Zara came into my room She had finished her task in the studio, she said, and she now proposed a drive in the Bois as an agreeable way of passing the rest of the afternoon

"I want to be as long as possible in your co sweetness in her manner; "for now your friends have co us, so I must have as ht of parting from her, and I looked wistfully at her lovely face Leo had followed her in from the studio, and seeood friends, Zara dearest," I said, "shall we not? Close, fond friends, like sisters?"

"Sisters are not always fond of each other," reaily "And you know 'there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother'!"

"And what friend is that in YOUR case?" I asked, half jestingly, half curiously

"Death!" she replied with a strange smile, in which there was both pathos and triumph

I started at her unexpected reply, and a kind of foreboding chilled my blood I endeavoured, however, to speak cheerfully as I said: "Why, of course, death sticks more closely to us than any friend or relative But you look fitter to receive the embraces of life than of death, Zara"

"They are both one and the sa," she answered; "or rather, the one leads to the other But do not let us begin to philosophize Put on your things and co"

I readily obeyed her, and we enjoyed an exhilarating drive together The rest of the day passed with us all very pleasantly and our conversation had principally to do with the progress of art and literature in many lands, and maintained itself equably on the level of s, we spoke of the Spanish violinist Sarasate, and I a to hireat artist, such as, "He plays pieces which, though adapted to show his wonderful skill, are the veriest clap-trap;" "He lacks breadth and colour;" "A true type of the artist virtuoso," etc, etc