Year: 1867

shine to gladden. their hearts, for Dick loved
| children


One evening more in the parlor, Dick sit


ting at the window looking across the gar


den at the tall brick house, and John lying


on the sofa with little Jennie in his arms
listening to her innocent prattle, and Mary


reading there in the little rocking chair,
swaying to and fro, and looking up at John
and smiling occasionally. By and by she
put down her book and turned to Dick


John didn't tell you we were going to
Sawny's Pond next Wednesday ?' she
asked


''No, 1 havn't heard anything about it
before, replied Dick, turning away from
the window.


swell, we are, and Katie is going with
US. Couldn't you drive out there alone, say
about four o'elock?''


Don't know but could" and he twirled
his moustache for a moment, and then bret
his hand down on his knee very hard and
l viii, he added. Its just what I've
been wanting


eyes, and Katie wouldn' be there if you
went with us, you know-Mrs Weaver
wouldn't allow it. .


mo, of course not, said Dick; 'but
shall be there all the same"


And so it was settled, and Dick went back
to the Office and his seat on the high stool
next morning quite cheerful, keeping an
image of Kate in his mind, all the time with
thoughts of her that made even the dingy
old office look bright


But Sam Dodridge didn't know what to
think of him, he seemed so happy all day
long; and when he questioned him his only
reply was-"'tis all right, my boy. Just
wait awhile"


"Of course it's all right, Dick. I know
there nothing wrong but what makes you
so happy?" asked Sam.


why don't you know?' putting on a
very serious look


mo"


"Wen, then you can tell no one" and
Dick laughed and went back TO his ledger;
but Sam didn't ask any more questions.


So Wednesday afternoon came, and
splendid horse with top carriage to match,
and Dick Vernon inside, ratified over the
road towards Sawny's Pond


John, with Mary and Katie had gone on
before but while John was fastening his
horse to the stump Of tree near the lake,
and the ladies' were sitting in the boat by
the shore, Dick drove up in cloud of dust,
with his horse all fecked with foam, and
breathing very hard, as if the grass had not
a chance to grow under his feet.


well, John, you didn't get much the
start of me, - said Dick, jumping out of the
carriage and proceeding to fasten his horse
after which they walked down to the boat
where the ladies were, and Mary introduced
Dick to Miss Weaver; and there was a
conscious blush on Katie's face when she
gave him her hand, and he thought she re-
membered seeing him in the horse car, try
ing to fatter himself that she did.


But whether she remembered him or not
[ do not know, and She didn't tell, though
she made herself very agreeable to Dick and
be did every thing in his power to please
her, and they became excellent friends in
very short space of time. And they rowed
all around the lake and filed the boat with
lilies, and Katie sat down and made wreath !
Of them when they got ashore, and put it
On Dick $ head but he thought it would
be more becoming to her, and so crowning
her with the lilies, he whispered, "My
lueenl'' and looked so very much as if he
meant it that Katie blushed, she didn't
know why, but L think she was trying to
fancy how Mr.. Stevenson, that old man that
her father wanted her to marry, would lock,
IN his knees before her, crowning her with
lilies, and whispering Ny queen !"


But Dick wasn't thinking of rivals then
and when John said that it was time to start
ior home, Dick stood up, and looked down
1t Katie sitting there on the grass, and
lsked her if she didn't think it would be
more comfortable to ride home with him
han to 20 with John and crowd them into
,ne carriage; and she said she thought it |
would though of course she didn't think |
anything about the pleasure of Dicks soci-
ETY. any more than he did of hers.


They became very well acquainted on the
way home and though they knew there
vas no one to hear, still they talked very
ow to each other, and Dick found out all |
about his rival, Mr.. Stevenson, and [ don't !
know but he went so far as to hint that the |
I'D gentleman never could love her as a
certain young man. always would, for the
simple reason that he couldn't help it.


But / know that Dick thought that the
ide home was very short. Even Katie
made the remark that Dick had very fast |
horse, though John and his wife had been |
1t home halt an hour at least


If old Mr. Weaver had been awake he
ninbt hova hoard sop,e. hing o,,% b,, tbe rate |