MILLIEBS VICTORY.

 One summer evening, she was sitting under the
trees reading, when the postman opened the gate, and
handed her a letter.
 From mamma," was her first glad thought as she
saw it was addressed to her; but it was an English :
postmark-" Branton," and the handwriting was stiff
and upright, not her mother's pretty writing.
 In wonder Millie broke the seal. It was a short
note, signed "Millicent Conway." A short cold letter,
mentioning her mother in a way that made Millie's
face flush with indignation.
 "Go and stay with her, after abusing mamma like
that ? I am sure I won't. I was left with Mrs. La
Serre, and I shall stay here !" exclaimed Millie, start-
ing up, and going towards the house.
 Millicent Conway was her only aunt, Mrs. Chur-
ton's only sister. Almost from childhood Miss Con-
way had envied and disliked her prettier sister, and
since Mrs. Churton's marriage they had never met,
Millie had been named after her aunt; Mrs. Churton
had written to her, but Miss Conway refused to be
reconciled.
 "You shall not go, Millie, unless your mamma
would like you to do so. Write a nice letter to your
aunt, and say you must have your mother's consent
before you leave the home where she placed you."
 I shan't go! She's horrid, Mrs. La Serre. I
believe she hates mamma because she married papa ;
and Aunt Millicent is an old maid. I wonder if she
has a cat and a parrot ? Oh I I wouldn't go there for
the world!"
 Miss Conway did not reply to Millie's letter, and
the months passed swiftly on, marked by no changes
in Millie's home.
 *;.