Year: 1865

WIN ner III ~ was poSslole 10 keep ner.
You and the squire can talk it over while
/ drive up the cows"


John Grant opened the gate and passed
down the lane to where the COWS were
feeding, leaving Mary with the lawyer
For number of moments there was ST.
lcnce. and then the girl gazed tlmidly up
in the lawyers face, as if she would read
his heart, mirrored there


you will give us time, Mr.. Vance.
You will not foreclosc on the mortage
now? p she said, inquiringly.


"1n one condition, Mary, ] will give
up the mortgage, and you can do as you
please with the COLT


Again Mary raised her eyes, but they
fell suddenly. She liked not the look up
on his face. 1t almost made her shudder
in all her efforts to be calm. He seemed
to be waiting for her to speak, but no
words came from her closed lips She did
not dare to ask the condition. Her heart
whispered what it would be, yet she tried
to think he did not mean it.


MARY" he said, taking her hand,
which was as cold as ice, and which she
from fear of offending, dare not withdraw



II have something which | have long
wished to say to you, and which, If you
are the considerate girl take you to be
will put this matter of the mortgage for
evever at rest. My house is lonely, anG
want some one to fill my dead wife''
place. am an old man to what you ar,
but my heart is warm, and | will try t.
make you happy, as well as to take !
load from the shoulders of your uncle


Mary. will you be my wife p


Foi few moments the girl could no
speak. This was the sacrifice he wanted
Should it be given? Never The ho


blood surged from her heart and gave he


new strength.


Mr. Vance, | cannot be your wife;


am but girl now, and you are an ol'


man. Do hot mention this to me again
for it can never be. y


The last sentence was added, for sh


thought him about to speak, to urge hi
suit. She was mistaken.


Good evening, Miss Grant he said
and turned away, walking rapidly towar'


the farmhouse, beyond which lay tn
$ road that led to the village.


t Mary watched him until he disappeare
, from view beyond the farmhouse No
t that she cared whittier he went, but look


ing as ole sometimes does, on vacancy
e finding it almost impossible to WITHDRAW
| her gaze. With a sigh of relief she sa,
him disappear from view and then sh
| went up to the farmhouse, all unmindtu


that the colt was gazing in wonder at he


returng without her, for every night the
o had gone up together.


e Jvhn Grant came up the lane, drivin
the cows before him. He saw the col
f still standing by the gate, and Mary bt


yond, going slowly homeward. BY thi
b he knew that the lawyer had spoken, tha
n the die was cast which decided the fate {
!. the homestead, and the ownership of til
O colt that his son had priced so highly.
: john Grant saw matters in worldl


view. He thought only Of the good thu
would would come to them by the alliant
i of Mary with the lawyer The old hom'
!, stead so dear to them all. would retail
d the family name, and stranger woul
q not till the land that had so long belong
# cd to the Grants the colt would not
d sold, aud the promise to his lost SC


would be kept Mary should have her {
D, bridal portion, aud when he was gon


the Grant homestead should then
10 hers %"


II Full of these thoughts, he opend Il
.e gate and drove the cows and colt throug


and up to the barnyard, where he four
ct Mary waiting, with her pals ready to 9
q with the rich, frothy milk One CLAN
ne at her face showed that all the plans


had cherished for her, all his hopes al
st expectations, were but idle fancies S
IN had accepted the sacrifice. rather thar t


hand and fortune Of Hiram Vance. ~
ed The days went on. The last gold
,r. weeks of summer we're waning, and sc
r. tember, laden with harvest sheaycs, "