Year: 1861

seized the opportunity when the family were
out to visit my prison.


"The key had been left in the lock, so she
easily gained admittance. l begged her to
bring me glass of water, for my thirst had
become intolerable. She went down stairs and
soon returned with brimming pitcher of ice
water. When | queDched my thirst she stood
watching me with a pleasant smile playing
around her lips then she handed me large
orange, which she had abstracted from the
pantry. With swelling tears l took the hand
covered it with grateful kisses.


"'God bless your little heart, she said. It's
burning shame, so it is. Just you keep
awake tonight, Harry darling, and see if n ell
Creighton don't out-wit that old heathen.'


Long after the family had retired that
night, l lay awake waiting hopelessly for Nell
to come to my relief. Every minute seemed an
age, till the key turned in the lock, the door
swung open, and my friend appeared From
her knowledge Of the place she had been able
to gain admittance into the house and, once
in, the rest was easy. Obeying her whispered
injunction l followed her silently down the
stairs and out ofthe front door, Where she was
taking me l neither knew nor cared to know
| thought there could hardly be worse place
than the one had left. Before the house
stood countryman's horse, and good looking
young fellow holding the reins The young
man lifted me in his arms and laid me tendery
on bed of clean straw. Nell sprang in be.
side me, and in moment we were rattliug
over the road to Nell's home. The next morn
ing could not sit up; for week the fever
burnt in my veins, and then / began to gel
better.


Nothing could excel the kindness of my
new friends, and trust was not ungrateful
When | was restored to health followed Mel
about the house and farm like pet spaniel
and for long time was never happy out of her
company. Mr.. Ballard did not discover my
whereabouts, or did not choose to claim me-


The next Christmas Nell was married to
the young man who assisted in my abduction
l went to live with them, and Nell taught me
the art of washing dishes and sweeping floors
and in due time initiated me into the mysteries
of baby tending. Part of the proceeds of eve
ry basket of eggs and pail of butter that went
to market was expended in procuring paints
and brushes, and my pictures were exhibited
with vast deal Of pride.


Wien l went away to study my art, my
holidays were always spent with Nell and her
husband. In few years relative died, eav
ing me sufficient money to buy small farm
upon which 1 established my benefactors.-
That sketch is of the farm house, with Nell
standing on the porch just as l have seen her
thousand times. She is a Roman Catholic
and | have often thought of forsaking my IA
theirs religion and embracing hers. As /
could not consistently do that vowed to name
my first child after her, and should if your sis
ter hadn't objected to calling the little fellow
Nell. However, had my own way next time
and your niece was christened Nell Creighton "


"There was material enough for a three
voumed novel if you hadn't spoiled it, Hal
According to all the rules of romance you
ought to have married Nell, or, that out Of the
question, one of her daughters


$50 l might if a young friend hadn't intro
duced me to the sweetest girl in the world
and l should not have done bad thing either .


So thought l when, few days after. Nell
and her daughter came to visit my brother-in-
law and his wife. Straightway l began to
build an airy castle, which Harry unceremonl-
ously tipped over by informing me that Miss
Kitty was shortly to be married, and that my
sister was already at work on the wedding
dress. As can't have Kitty, have stipula-
ted with Harry for copy of the paintings,
which hangs over the mantle, to adorn my par
lor, when slip my bachelor neck into the
moose, and set up the house keeping on my own
responsibility