Year: 1864

like tread OF the unknown watcher ming
ling in my drowsy ear.


Cool and breezy, and gloriously
bracing. was the next morning. l went
out early for a draught of the mountain
breeze, and A look at the picturesque and
romantic scenery all about. The superb
prospect, the fine air, almost as exhilera-
ting to my over sensitive nerves As
draughts of cordial, might have well
nigh intoxicated me had not the flying
leaves and the sad and sombre tints OF
advanced autumn. checked my elation.


On my return to the inn, which
found to be situated in the corner formed
by the junction of the by-way, / had
come, n much better and more Travelled
road | was kindly received by my host
into the sitting room. already warm and
CHEEKY with a bright fire Before re
firing the evening previous l had recon
sidered my intention of going on, and
now composed myself to the enjoyment
of aquiet and comfortable day, respite
welcome rs well to my tired horse as
myself


DO you know" asked my host, after
/ was seated by the fire, '.do you know.
sir. who the gentleman was that came in
' L
replied, Il fell in with him few miles
below, and he showed me the way, which
! l should otherwise hardly have found.
He seemed quite familiar with it


Indeed" answered nv host, with
/ some surprise, lit is rather strange
I He went away during the night and took
with him one or two little trinkets which
We're on the mantle piece in his room.
! of I'M A
/ thought great deal of them, for they
I had been given by William to our little
Minnie, before he went away. 1t is very
strange. l have kept open doors for
five and twenty years, but anything of
this sort has very seldom happened
Our daughter is much troubled about the
loss of the keepsakes.'


l sat down by one of the front win
dows and watched the passers by. Now
and then a large numbering wagon went
past driven by some sturdy farmer, with
his buxom helpmeet by his side, and an
abundance of plump rosy checked chill
dren, packed snugly in before and be-
hind-all glowing with health and ra-
dlant with happiness on their way to
some family gathering. Once in while
neat chaise or elegant buggy drove by,
bringing once more to the kind old
homestead sons and daughters from
some populous place at a distance. Now
anu then young couple passed sprucely
dressed and with neat appointments, GO
ing l was sure, where one of them would
claim for the first time place ana ahare
at the paternal hearth and in the pater-
nal heart. All was very bright and
pleasant and cheerful


BY and by the bell rung for religious
services from a neat little chapel near by,
and walked leisurely down the street,
toward the place of worship. The day,
as if conscious of the use to which it
had been appointed, was mild and kind
ly, and the sunshine seemed glad and
joyful as hymn of praise. There was
no sexton in attendance at the little
church but several seats were at once
offered, one of which l accepted The
congregation was small but very pleas
ant to look on-devout, vet without any
of that austerity which good people
sometimes mconsciously assume on the
Sabbath. The exercises were such as
befitted the occasion-earnest and thank
full


On my return to the inn, was invited
by my host to dine with the family an in
vitation which 1 very gladly accepted
Mrs. Archer, a fine matronlv woman, did
the honors of the table. with kindly
grace, and my host dispensed the viands
with frank and hearty hospitality.
pleasantly unlike the bought ciyilities of
the common Boniface Swcetly beauti-
tul was their adopted daughter woman
ly, yet almost infantle in her chaste and
simple loveliness. As l observed her |
remembered how proudly her foster
fathar H. Il ms arpaI har ss-uoaf tIioa po,
ton" There was shade of sadness on
all their faces as we sat down as if they
were thinking Of him, who should have
been with US, but whatever were their re-
grets, they bore them like those to whom
the discipline of sorrow had not come
in vain. SO. although the meal was not
a festive one, it was still pervaded with
quiet and subdued cheerfulness / sat
a considerable time in pleasant conver-
sation with the family and then retired
to my own apartment.


The day. which had begun cool and
breezy, has softened down into an after
noon warm, hazy and dream like Over
all the hills and in all the valleys lay the
enchantment of the Indian summer I
sat down at my window and watched the
the sun declining SLOWLY, the brighten
ing amber of the western skv and the



deepening purple of the transparent
haze now stealing over the distant hills
By and by as the sun went down and all
the beautiful tints died away from the
landscape, and then from the sky. | be-
came aware that | was little lonely and
homesick, and SO, as my only relief,
bethought myself of writing to those
with whom l would gladly have been on
this day of pleasant reunions.


A page was finished and sat dreamily
staring at the lamp when | was startled
by the quick opening and shutting Of an
outer door just beneath me This was
followed by a short. faint cry and a few
low hummed words unintelligible to me
yet spoken in tones that seemed not un-
impressed that something unusual had
occurred. below, I descended into the
sitting room


Mr. Archer, who was sitting by the
fire and noticed nv manner as / entered,
was about to speak when his wife enter