Year: 1869

didn't want me to know about IT,"
Mile had listened to this with curl
Gus mixture of feelings, for Squire Johns
was declared lover of. hers, and though
she had not yet accepted him, she had
been both pleased and fiattered with his
attention, and had certainly given him
encouragement. Moreover, ne was to re-
ceive his final answer in three days from
that time, and she was not sure the answer
reserved and laid away for that time was
"no." True, Millie was not in love with
him, but she had waited so lorg in vain
for that ecstatic state of feeling she had
heard and read so much about, that she
was quite decided that she was not capa-
BILE Of love, and that to like any one was
as much as she could expect. But she
certainly liked Squire Johns as well if not
better than any one, and his love must
certainly be disinterested, for he could not
know that -. But now Millie
stopped Could he nots Might he not
have found out in some way? If this
story were true, would such man be
likely to marry a poor girl? For Millie
Warner was really an heiress in small
way. She was sole inheritOr of fine un-
encumbered farm from her father, and
five thousand dollars in bank stock. But
the farm was two hundred miles south OF
this town, where she was visiting cousin,
and nobody knew of it; and during her
visit she had helped her cousin in her
work as she had always helped her moth
er when she was at thome-capable, indus
trious little girl that she was.


This story agreed with things that she
had heard limited at, but only limited at,
and even that the next moment was
for
rich and influential man, and people could
not afford, without some reason, TO lose
his favor. She remembered it all now
Could he in reality be such a scoundre?


She could Judge better about the truth
of the story when she had seen Ben.
Who was Ben? Two or three enquiries
had amounted to nothing The children
spoke just as if everybody must know who
Ben was. Was he an uncle, cousin, hired
man, or what? Evidently somebody very
old by the way Hetty spoke of him.
Whoever it was, what would he think of
her intrusion But she couldn't help
what he thought, and she shrugged her
shoulders IS she looked out at the still
pouring rain.


Young Ben HaZwell, out in the field.
pitched up the last hay on the load, leaned
his pitch-fOrk against tree, and took of
his straw hat to cool his moist forehead.
His gaze followed the hay-cart, went over
the broad lands, and returned.


"The hay is all gone in" he said, with
long breath of relief. al could not at
ford to loose even one load now. | don't
know that | can do it; but if | can sell
part of the land may. 1t will be hard
pull though"


There was noise of carriage wheels,
and he looked towards the road. His
brown face darkened as he looked.


"I could, perhaps, have got an extension
of time if that villain had not got the
mortgage in his hands; and, dastsrdly
rascal, who makes it his business TO rob
and defraud the poor and the fatherless,
he may take this farm; he will if he can
for ne has been man9uvering for it long
time; but he shall have it with the sound
est horsewhipping that ever a man had.
Twice! thrice the number of strokes OF
the united years Of my tender little sisters
and my arm is strong" And he looked
after the carriage with his hands firmly
clenched.


my two years at college did me bat
little good If l could have finished, and
got profession, or had a good trade, |
should not have been so helpless, If the
worst comes to the worst. But won't
look on the dark side"


The young man followed the cart into
the barn. The storm was at it's height
when he went towards the house from the
back way. He stopped in surprise, as he
saw through the window some one stand
ing at the table, with arms bear to the
elbow, mixing -four. 1t must be Martha.
No; those fair, white arms are not Mar
tha's, neither hers the slender, graceful
figure, AS he came nearer, he could dis
tipguish the sparkling piquant face. She
was laughing ard talking with Hetty, and
evidently giving her the directions for
what she was making Hetty was gazing
upon her, eager and absorbed. Little Eva
was sitting at the table in her high chair,
working at piece of dough.


"a tate for Ben" 1t was as black as
her soiled little fingers could make it but
| it did not occur To Eva that that could be
any objection. 1t was pretty, pleasant
sight in that long desolatc home; and he
stood there, unconscious of the pouring
rain, eagerly gazing at this fair young
stranger, himself picture Of manly beau.
ty, till the voice of one of the men calling
to the oxen, awoke him from his reverie
By-and-by there was spluttering Of
water heard in the next room by Hetty.


Ben has come" running hastily for
ward and opening the door.


"Ben has tumi" echoed the little one,
clapping her hands and lisping, as he came
in, bright and smiling, what she had in
store for him: I" is made q tate for 90
is"


He caught her up in his arms and gave
her kiss, while she laughed and shouted
but his eyes were seeking the stranger.


Hetty said, prettily: " My brother Ben ,
Then to him "This lady got caught in
the shower, Ben, and is staying until il
clears up. She has been so kind as to
help me to get dinner, and has made some
splendid biscuit"


They both stood mute a moment, she
with surprise at the real Ben, young, hand
some, and well bred he with admiration
and strange new feeling he could not de
fine. lie had hardly made her welcome
with return of his self possession, when
there was loud rap at the street door
Hetty went to the door, came back pale,
and whispered to Ben Squire Johns. u


Mile drew quickly back from the half
opened door. Ben went in to his visitor
closing the door after him, but ever,
word was distinctly heard by Mile, foi
Squire Johns did not speak in the low
suave tone she was accustomed to hea
him, but loud and peremptory.


&c am in haste, young man; | jus
stopped to say that the time for the pay
ment of the money due me being da,
after tomorrow, if it is not ready l shal
be obliged Immediately to resort to sever
measures"


"Impossible |" exclaimed the youn,
man in q surprised and excited tone "YOl