Williams news., 1915-06-24
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.

T have been told" thus Deborah easily proceeded, "that for a small house yours contains the most won derful assortment of interesting ob- jects. Where did you ever get them?"
 My father was a collector, on a very small scale of course, and my mother had a passion for hoarding which prevented anything from going out of this house after it had once come into it"
 "My husband" began Mrs. Sec vile, thoughtfully.
 Miss Weeks stared in consternation at Mrs. Scoville, who hastened to say:
 You wonder that can mention my husband. Perhaps you will not be so surprised when I tell you that in my eyes he is a martyr, and quite guiltless of the crime for, which he was pun ished." surprise in the manner of the ques- toner. Mrs. Scoville's brow cleared She was pleased at this proof that her affairs had not yet reached the point of general gossip.
 Miss Weeks, am mother I have a young and lovely daughter. Can I look in her innocent eyes and believe responsibilities as to overshadow her life with crime? No, will not believe it. Circumstances were in favor of his conviction, but he never lifted the stick which struck down Algernon Etheridge."
 Miss Weeks, who had sat quite still during the utterance of these remarks, fdgeted about at their close, with what appeared to the speaker, a sud den and quite welcome relief.
 "Ohi" she murmured; and said no more. It was not a topic she found easy of discussion.
 The sadness which now spread over the very interesting countenance of her visitor, offered her an excuse for the introduction of far more mo- mentous topic; one she had burned to introduce. but had not known how
 Mrs. Scoville, I hear that Judge Ostrander has got your daughter a pi- ano. That is really a wonderful thing for him to do. Not that he is so close with his money, but that he has al ways been so set against all gayety and companionship. I suppose you did not know the shock it would be to him when you asked Bella to let you into the gates"
 No! I didn't know. But it is all right now. The judge seems to vel come the change. Miss Weeks, did you know. Algernon Etheridge we'll enough to tell me if he was as good and irreproachable a man as they all say?"
 He was good man, but he had a dreadfully obstinate streak in his dis. position and very set ideas. I have heard that he and the judge used to argue over point for hours And he was most always wrong. For in. stance. he was wrong about Oliver"
 "Oliver?"
 Judge Ostrander's son, you know MT. Etheridge wanted him to study for a professorship; but the boy was determined to go into journalism, and you see what success he las made of it. As professor he would prob ably have been a failure.'
 Was this difference of opinion or the calling he should pursue the cause of Divers leaving home in the way he did?" continued Deborah, consciou. of walking on very thin ice.
 But Miss Weeks rather welcomed than resented this curiosity. Indeed she was never tired of enlarging upoI the Ostranders.
 'I have never thought so. The judg' would not quarrel with Oliver on s' small a point as that. My idea is though 1 never talk of it much. tha they had great quarrel over MI Etheridge. Oliver never liked the ol' student; I've watched them and Pv seen. He hated his coming to tn house so much; he hated the way hi father singled him out and deferre to him and made him the confident o all kis troubles When they went ol their walks, Oliver always hung bach