The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-25
CHAPTER V.
The Wishino Stone,

The Wishing Stone.
 T1HE girls who had been invited
 to spend the night at the Pines came early the next day, - and I went to the fields with Bud, for Miss Ellen told me that I would only be in the way if I stayed at home. saw Bud at his blow and watched how cheerfully he did the work of a day laborer. I lit my pipe and walked several of the furrows with him, and then, heartsick at see ing this fine specimen of young man hood trudging wearily to and fro in the thankless soil, I wandered off in the woods to dream of Miss Ellen and weave schemes for the rest of the fam fly when she would have become my wife. When? The question brought with it a flood of doubt, for, after all. would she give up the work she had undertaken, or would her pride allow her to accept any assistance for her family? I felt there were depths to her nature which I had not been able to sound in the short time had been there.
 For fear of wounding her I had re- mained silent, but I was now resolved to speak to her before leaving, and had received orders that night to return to Boston would have told her of my boundless love and asked her to be- come my wife. Still wavering between my inclination to declare my love and fear of being too precipitate, returned to the Pines. did not see her until dinner time, however, then only during n hasty meal, after which we assisted her to clear the table and place a number of small ones on the side porch for the party. We laid the collation. Tor the evening" entertainment and then went to dress.
 It was with some misgivings that lionned my evening suit, but on com Ing downstairs I found the colonel ar rayed in one of an anterior date and Bud transformed from the blow hand of the morning in the suit he had worn at the time of his graduation. A number of young girls had arrived be- fore Miss Ellen came down, and the men were assembled at the foot of the stairs as if waiting for her.
 My heart seemed to stop beating as l saw her 1.-the and graceful figure, clad in an old brocade of her mother, coming toward me. Her hair was built high on her head, which seemed to change her whole appearance and made me start as I remembered my dream picture. The brocade was fad ed. but it's gloss and richness remain ed. Her shoulders were bare, and her tilted chin gave her the air of some quaint old medieval picture come to life.
 Am l. not in keeping with the house?'' she said, interpreting my gaze.
 'You are like q queen" I said.
 Then you shall pay me court for this one night" she answered md held out her hand to me, which l took, and with the manner of an old time south ern gentleman, just as I had seen Colo neF 'rurpin do, I bowed low and for a moment let my lips finger on the tips of her fingers.
 You have other courtiers," said one of several men who came forward to join us.
 She held out her hand, and as she did so she looked at me for a second. She withdrew it gracefully and added, with a smile, "I was only admitting a new one,' and then bade me fol low her. She introduced me here and there and told me how many times must dance with each. We went OE the porch, and, standing there, was again struck with the resen- blance to the lady in my dream.
 You are like the first part of my picture,'' l said softly.
 'Then let me play it for this even- ing,' she said And If you can i'm agine me a colonial dame you shall be a courier from King Georges court.'
 Good I cried, If you will admit that I have come across the seas