Year: 1861

but had no excuse for declining his court
eous invitation; consequently she WIS
obliged to accept.


What polite host was Sir. Cauldwell i
How attentive and pleasant he was
How admirably his household affairs were
conducted and in what perfect taste was
everything arranged about the house !.
Cook his own meals, indeed Fannie
smiled at her mischievious insinuation,
as she sat before his sumptuously spread
table. Her own looked plainly and poor
/ ly in comparison with it.


After tea was served, Mr.. Cauldwell
sang and played to her. He did this as
though conscious of his superior perform
ance-for he could not help knowing
what every person was so soon assured
Of But Fannie was piqued by his man
ner. Did he think her a novice? Did
he think she had never seen a piano be-
/ fore? Evidently so, by the way that he
turned from it when he had finished play
ing. Now Fannie was no mean per
former, and she had a voice as sweet,
rich and clear as a song sparrow. She
could not brook 2Ir. Cauldwell's slight.


you have g'atifed me, l'tme eudea-
vor to repay you" said she, bowling and
stopping toward the piano.


There was a wide awake flash in her
eyes, as she said this--a pretty arching
of her white, slender neck Mr. Cauld-
we'll turned around with evident sur
prise.


He said 'he knew Miss Leonard could
fire a gun very well, but he was not aware
that she was musician"


She did not answer him but touching
the KEYS wita her light skiliful fingers,
ran through difficult opera song with
the most perfect correctness. Then she
ran off into a sweet old melody, and let
her voice out, soft, clear, thrilling and
birdIike. For weeks she had not sung
before and her voice was in perfect tone
now it rioted in It's sudden Freedom.


Il like that" said Mr. Cauidw9ll.-
"You are making me your debtor. /


What was he going 10 say that Fannie
should interrupt him with-"Let US try
to sing together, Mr.. CauldwelI ?"


"CcrtainIy," he answered biting his
full under lip.


Miss Fannie went home in a pet that
night after al. She declared to herself
that for the future she would avoid her
neigEbor, steadily and perseveringIy. a
suspicious conclusion for her to come to-
Whether a wise one or not, leave it for
some one else to determine.
! The next day Miss Leonard's cattle
made sad havoc with Mr.. Cauldwell's
cora He wrote her note Informing
her of the fact.


She put on her bonnet and went over
to see him about it. She carried her
purse on her arm.


"She could pay for the damage done
by the cattle" she said to herself


Mr. Cauldwell was astounded. " He
did not sell his corn-fodder in any such
way" he sad laughing ale should
shoot her cows if She did not keep them
at home" he rogui>hIy added.


She hoped he would do SO; but she
should not be as generous as he had been
that is she should not present him with
his game.


That would not be very generous af-
ter all, he retorted laughingy "since
have no cook. And that made him think
of her promise. Didn't she tell him that
she would cook for him whenever he wisL-
ed her to ?"


;. She was caught there. How she
blushcd over it. Mr.. Cauidwell was not
f at all merciful he went Oh talking re
gardIess Of her bushes.


lie said he had "come to the conclu-
sion that they would do well to work in
partnership. lie thought her a very
poor farmcr-he was sure he was poor
houskecper, and"


She made an effort to slip past him out
Of the door as he said this, but he caught
her hand.


allow shall it be?' he asked holding
her firmly.


Fannie hung her head, and tried to get
away


Answer me, if you please. am
quite serious" he said. eyes or no z"
| New Fannie liked this odd neighbor
of hers exceedingly, and so she made the
wise answer that she should have made,
and that too without any hesitation
s"Yes!'


), | have learned since that they are a
model couple-Mr. and Mrs Cauld-
well. So ended Fannie Leonard's farm
ing


a Secession Speech.