Year: 1865

speak that word But between her and
any such answer there came her own voice
OF old promising to wait forever. And
she remembered too we'll Anson's Please
heaven, you shall never havo TO wait so
long, to forget it now Aud so she would
trust God. Wait and horo still, though it
should be hoping against hope
And then the shadow was doepcned
and the flames Of sunset burned to ashes
down the west, and the figure of tho lone
ly girl-was lost in the gloom Of tho porch


She started suddenly. Something brush
ed her foot Only the cat; she had for
gotten her until that moment.


Come, pussy she said You shall go
too and taking the old creature in her
arms she went down the walk, the creak-
ing gate swung behind her, as she passed
out into the night.


The Frear' Farm to be sold to-day
they said. An auction was an event to
the dwellers in this quiet land of farms
Early in the afternoon the old vendue
master YVES upon the stand shouting and
gesticulating in a way which would have
done justice to q more hotly contested sale
There were, in fact, but two competitors
for tho farm, Squire Varnum and Deacon
Hall. The latter had just risen twenty
five dollars above the price set by his op-
ponent


The Deacon's got it now said voice
in the crowd, but just then there appeared
a new figure on the scene.


On the street in front Of the house, Just
under the poplars, q wagon had stopped
and tall man, bronzed and broHn beard
ed stood erect in it and looked down upon
the crowd witt. a keen, steady eye


Twenty five hundred dollars shouted
the auctioneer Tm offered twenty-five
hundred dollars for the Frear Farm
Who lids again? Too cheap by half
Goingr


Every ear awaiting the final Gone
when o voice sang out, deep and clear as
bell:


'Twcnty-six hundred dollars


The astonished farmers faced about to
a man, and scanned the new conner


'Twenty-six hundred and twenty~fiver
vociferated Deacon Hall, bcholding his
supposed possession suddenly taking to it
self wings.


'Twcnty~sevcn hundred shouted the
stranger, leaping from his wagon with q
bound, and striking through the crowd
lie reached the stand just as the hammer
came down.


Gone for twenty-sevcn hundred to.
What name, sir? and the yenduc-master
turned to the stranger,


My fcllow-toWnsman ought to do me
the honor to remember that sir he re-
piled with merry twinkle in his eyes.


by all the powers l believe it's An
son Boise!' exclaimed the old man taking
the stranger by the arm, and turning him
towards light


The same, sir and Anson extended
his hand cordially.


Well DONE and well grown, too. Why
what u giant you are Might been one
o the sons Of Anak tho Scripture tells
about, said Deacon Hall, looking up at
him.


And so you've come back to settle down
among US. That's right and they pressed
round 10 shake hands with him


Where's your wife, Ansou7' asked
one


Haven't found her yet, was the laugh
ing rcjoinder.


But he did find her
Margaret, sitting alono IN the dusk,
hearda step coming down the walk. '1ho
auctioneer, she said Well, she was
ready for him She had been schooling
herself all day. She would be brave and
not faltcr when he told hor that the old
| homestead was gone To whom she
wondered, and then tho light before her
eyes darkened, and there rang out again
the merry challenge


Guess who comes now
! Poor Margret, she had been ready fol
| the au ctioneer-ready for almost anything
she thought; but not for this, she gave a
little cry and would have fallen to the
! floor


Then you know what happened-how
Anson took her in his strong arm. and
carried her to tho air, and how Mrs. Kit
fridge ran for water and the 'camfire bot
tie, and the house generally was thrown
into a state of confusion.


Poor little crcetur, twas so sudden
said Mrs. Kittridgc, soothihgly, MS she
bathed Margarot's white face. but she /
come out ont in II minute


And Arson held the light form as cast
" as though it had been O child; an,
when Margaret came to herself again
there he was, looking down ut her witt
the same old look in his eyes


Two waited for you, she said, and sh
smiled a little, bright happy smilo.


She's had hard time of it poor thing
said Mrs Kittridge, stopping to tako Of
her spectaclos and wipe them AnsoI
turncd his head aside. There was . mis-