The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-12-20
CHAPTER NV.

thought 1t best for her to return TO
Mount Holyoke and accordingly she de-
clined Mr.. Knights offer, greatly to his
disappointment. and that of many others.
! One morning about a week after her
return she announced her intention of
visiting her mothers grave II am ac-
customed to so much exercise" said she,
shat can easily walk three miles, and
perhaps on my way home | shall get
ride"
Mrs. Mason made no objection, and
Mary was soon on her way. She was
rapid walker and almost before she was
aware of 1t reached the village. AS she
came near Mrs. Campbells the wish nat
urally arose that Ella should accompany
her Looking up, she saw her sister in
the garden and called to her.
"Wha-a-tT' was the very loud and un-
civil answer which came back to her, and
In moment Ella appeared round the cor
ner Of the house, carelessly swinging her
! straw hat and humming a fashionable
song. On seeing her sister she drew
back the corners of her mouth into some
thing which she intended for a smile, and
said, "Why, l thought IL was Bridget
calling me, you looked so much like her
come INF"
"Thank you," returned Mary. Il was
going to mothers grave, and thought per-
haps you would like to accompany me-
"Oh, no." said Ella In her usual drawl-
Ing Tone II don't know as want to go.
was there last week, and saw the mon
ument."
1 "What monument?' asked Mary, and
Ella replied:
/ "Why, didn't you know that Mrs. Ma
son, or the town, or somebody, had
bought monument, with mothers and
fathers and Franky's and Allies names
on itT'
/ Mary, hurrying on, soon reached the
graveyard, where, as Ella had said, there
stood by her parents graves a large,
handsome monument. William Bender
was the first person who came into her
mind, and as she thought of all that had
passed between them, and of this last
proof of his affection, she seated herself
among the tall grass and flowers which
grew upon her mothers grave and burst
into tears. She had not sat there long
ere she was reused by the sound of a
footstep. Looking up, she saw before her
the young gentleman who the year pre-
+ vious had visited her school in Rice Cor
ner. Seating himself respectfully by her
( side, he spoke of the three graves, and
asked IL they were her friends who slept
there. There was something so kind and
affectipnate In his voice and manner that
Mary could not repress her tears, and,
snatching up her bonnet, which she had
thrown aside, she hid her face in it and
again wept.
For time Mr.. Stuart suffered her to
weep, and then gently removed the ging-
ham bonnet, and, holding her hand be-
tween his, he tried to divert her mind by
talking upon other topics, asking her how
she had been employed during the year,
and appearing greatly pleased when told
that she had been at Mount Holyoke.
Observing at length that her eyes con-
stantly rested upon the monument, he
spoke Of that, praising it's beauty, and
asking If it were her taste.
mo" said she. II never saw it until
to-day, and did not even know it was
here"
Someone wished to surprise you, l
dare say" returned Mr.. Stuart at was
manufactured in Boston, l see. Have
you friends there?"
Mary replied that she had one, Mr..
Bender, to which Mr.. Stuart quickly re-
Joined. as it William Bender? l have
heard of him through our mutual friend
George Moreland, whom you. perhaps
have SEEN"
Mary felt the earnest gaze of the large,
dark eyes which were fixed upon her
face, and coloring deeply, she replied that
/ they came from England in the same YES
sci.
"Indeedr said Mr.. Stuart. "When 1
return to the city shall / refresh his MEM
ory little with regard to you"
I'D rather you would not" answered
/ Mary. "Our paths in life are very diff
ferent; and he, Of course, would feel no
! interest In me-"
"Am I to conclude that you, too, feel
no interest in him?" returned Mr.. Stuart,
and again his large eyes reseted OH
Mary's face with curious expression.
But she made no reply, and, soon rising
up said 1t was time for her to go home.
Vacation was over, and again in the
halls of Mount Holyoke was heard the
tread of many feet, and the sound of
youthful voices as one by one the pupils
came back to their accustomed places.
For time Mary was undecided whether
to return or not, for much as she desired
an education she could not help feeling
delicate about receiving it from a stran-
ger, but Mrs. Mason, to whom all her
thoughts and feelings were conided, ad-
vised her to return, and accordingly the
first dny of the term found her again at
Mount Holyoke, where she was warmly
welcomed by her teachers and compan-
ions. Still, it did not seem like the olden
time, for Ida was not there, and Jenny's
merry laugh was gone.
Patiently and perseyeringly through the
year she studied, storing her mind with
useful knowledge; and when at last the