The Press., 1892-08-04


 Margery's eyes grew big with aston ishment. There must be mistake nothing very remarkable had ever hap pened to her, and this sounded like a fairy story. She reread the letter. looked again at the address and tried to collect her ideas. Then it had been Mr. Solners' family who had injured her grandpar- ents so cruelly-was this what he meant when he had spoken of his spells of gloom-perhaps he feared that the sins of the father would be visited on the children. At any rate he was trying to atone, so far as he could. for the wrongs of the past.
 Il wonder he seemed to like me as we'll as he did," and she blnshed as she recalled looks and words that had cer- tainly spoken neither dislike nor indif- ference. He must be very different from his ancestors. No, she could not take the property from him. By the time two generations were gone it would seem like taking gift from this man. She respected him and admired him for wanting to do what so few would have thought of attempting-to right wrong which might easily have been left to the oblivion of the past-but no, she could not take it from him. She would write and tell MT. Nelson so. but she would sleep on it first. She would not write until tomorrow. and then she would decline MT. Somers offer. and nothing more need be said on the sub ject. It was strange story altogether, and Margery put the letter in her pocket and duly admired the kitten which Rosa came bringing to her from a nest that the old cat had made in Bess' stable.
 At last it was bedtime, and when she went to her room the girl read the letter once more. Then she seated herself by her window that looked toward the old house which she had entered so unex- pectedly that stormy evening. How little she had dreamed that she was in any way connected with the history of the gloomy old house and the man who had come to their help in the storm. There was faint light in that direction perhaps it came from old Hannah's lamp in the house where her own grand parents had lived and from which they had been driven ill their helpless old age. Then her thoughts turned to the present-to the man whose family his tory was so strangely mixed with her own-and she dreamed dreams ill the moonlight until one single stroke from the old clock sounded through the silence of the house and reused Margery to the present duty of trying to sleep. and contrary to her expectations she was soon in a real dreamland.
 The next morning she wrote to Mr. Nelson acknowledging his letter and de- clining to accept the property which MT. Somers offered to restore. She ap- preciated the motives which led him to do it, but felt that as the actors ill the strange story had all passed away there was nothing to be gained by reviving 1t. The property, she preferred. should re- main in the hands of the man whose claim to it was now legal. She sealed and directed her letter and went down to the hall, where Helen was seated in the doorway sewing.
 sHelen, think l will walk to the postoffice this morning." she said. "lt is such lovely June morning. and l want to mail letter.
 ''Very well. my dear. wish l could go with you; but l must try to finish this piece of work. Take my white shade hat from the hall closet, it looks nicely on you. l am afraid your pink gingham is rather long for country walks-there. that is better" as she deftly stuck in two pins just where they were needed.
 "You have quite bright color this morning, Margery; you look like little bit of June yourself. The country air tufts you"
 Margery dropped courtesy. Where old Toby?' she asked perhaps would better take him with me. You know your husband read us long lec- ture on tramps and lonely roads few days ago."
 ''Yes, do take him; he looks fierce, and that is all that is needed. You have plenty of time for the walk before lunch, so do not hurry"
 The road to the little country post office was the one on which stood the old honse, which had been her grandparents home. There was no danger of meeting MT. Somers on the way. for MT. Carle- ton had said he would not return for several days. As she came in sight of the tall chimneys and gables which could be seen through the dense shade