The Press., 1891-12-03

her father failed and died with cloud over him had threatened to cut him of with shilling if he fulfilled his engage ment.
 Meantime Darcy had actually little to live on, and was always head and ears in debt, while he tried to satisfy bis creditors with the prospect of the speedy demise of some one of his rich relatives He had thrown over Agnes, 1t was said, at his grandmot others command, but only Agnes knew the truth of the story, and she had confidsd it to no one. Now her lip curled as she thought of Teddy, and the next moment she sighed remember ing Percy Fallon. the clever young art ist who had been attentive whole long winter, though her mother and aunt had both frowned on him. He had been absurdly. ridiculously jealous of Lord Darcy, and had suddenly quit at the time the Ransom failure was announced, sailing for Europe without even taking leave. There was shade of bitterness in these reflections. Percy Fallon, after all, was as selfish and mercenary as tho others. His artistic nature had not saved him from the love of pelf. To be sure he had never asked her to be his wife. but there are states of feeling that re- quire no words The eyes speak, and heartbeats become audible to the fine ear of love.
 Then she turned to the long misery that followed her fathers death-the family chickering's and reproaches. her in- efficient brothers. her sisters moaning over the want of money and the loss of luxury, her struggles with herself and her bad education. until at last she had broken through the miserable coil and found the ight-determined to be free and independent and to make new and better life for herself. She felt glad again as she rose to JAe crest of the hill and saw her home, the old, gray farm house, crowning distant rise of ground with the great buttonball spreading its giant limbs above. Nimbly the light and shade played over the little humble roof. The leafage and the waving grass in the meadows seemed swept in great chords by the airy fingers of the wind and the very puddles in the road were beautiful as they joyously reflected the light Selim paced meekly across the bridge where he had come so near killing his mistress in the morning, and John Burns, with his mouth full of early din- ner, appeared at the door hitching up his "ga1luses.
 "Well now, it does beat all," said he, noting Selim's demure appearance. "You'rea regler femel Rarey. thought one time on the bridge you was 8 reg'ler goner and so did mother"
 "Give him six quarts of oats," said Agnes, batting her favorite's neck. 'Has Phemy been wedding in the strawberry patchY
 "l guess you'll find she's purty trifiin and no account" returned John as he loped off to the barn.
 Agnes strolled over to the garden and was disappointed to find Phemy wasn't there. Then she went to her own room and on opening the door discovered it filled with apple blossoms arranged in old cracked pitchers and bowls. The little chamber where the girl slept was next to her own. She pushed open the door and saw Phemy Spence before a small piece of looking glass, turning her head this way and that, like 8 hen in quest of crumbs, as she tried the effect of 8 ragged lace collar and the green glass breastpin on her scrawny neck.
 ''Oh. Phemy," said Agnes reproach- fully. you are here prinking before the glass when hoped to find you wedding in the garden.
 Phemy colored under her frecldes. Don't git mad, said she breath lessly. q know you couldn't jaw like Miss Blodgett if you tried. did weed most three hours; hope to die if 1 didn't, and then my back come near breaking in two, and thought I'd straighten up and gawk around a little, and then 1t come into my head to pick some apple blows | down in the orchard to trim your chamber. wanted ter surprise ye, and when got down there in among the trees l see somethin a-movin and a-shiftin around on tother side the fence next to the piece of woods, and twas 8 man peekin through hole in box with black cloth over his head"
 "A photographer" said Agnes
 "Yes, one of them gimcracks, and l knew he meant to take me in among the apple trees, and never had my pictur tux in all my days, and was ashamed of my old clothes and ragged hat"
 "So you came in to put on your finery?'
 "Yes'um, l thought wouldn't like to be tux without my joolry." ~ Agnes laughed Well then let us go and see if we can find this picture man. Come and show me where you saw him, !" and bareheaded she started with Phemy down the slope of the little hill toward a piece of woods that stretched to the bor- ders of Willow creek. ''Oh, he's gone," cried the girl, clasp ing her hand in despair. ''Ef that aint too mean for anythingl And, miss. he was standin right there with his ma chine, and so nice loolxin and genteel. though he hadn't on billed shirt.-
 "A what?" said Agnes.
 "A billed shirt; only fannels. with a black ribbin round his neck. But he was jolly locker can tell you, and now shall never have my pictur tux, and after I'd gone and prinked and put on my best. forgot to tell you Miss Blodgett was here this mornin and scolded about me to Miss Burns. so could hear her way down in the garding. She said was mean and lazy and tow, and the biggest eater she'd ever seen. Them was her very words" and Phemy looked with 3 kind of furtive eagerness at Agnes to see what effect they would produce. 'eShe said she was mighty glad to get shook of me, and she wished you joy of havin nc. thought that after hearin that, miss. you might tell me to trot to the poor farm" "No, you can stay with me, Phemy, If you will try, to do your best and are truthful and honest. < shall give you time to play. and I shall try to teach you to read and write and to speak correctly. and>to keep yourself neat, like lady" The girl flung herself down on the ground like mad creature and began to kiss the young lady's shoes mumbling