Year: 1865

hardly have been more fiery cross
She said nothing to Maggy directly
but she read her q good many lee
lures regarding duties to ones fami
L. and kindred, and did whatever
else was calculated to disturb hel
sisters conscience with q sense O
being about to commit great moral
wrong. Magdalen was uncommuni.
cative, and that very fact was enough
to prove she was not convinced
Affairs were moving on much the
same as if there had been no opposi-
tion-or perhaps triae faster for it.
Alr. Sparks revcr ventursd near the
house-tkat is to say, nearer than
the cow yard; and there, whenever
the milking stool was not hung on
the fence, he was. It~was the only
opportunity be had. and he was eyi-
dently determined to make the most
of it.


Talk of q co1&hlp OF Eve, ten, or
twelve year 6e|Esjye Of loss OF
sleep, waste d midnight oil. et cetera'
If it suits the parties, why very well;
but the business can be carried on
and brought to the same successful
end on Infinitely less capital.


MagdaleIi was from home one eve
ming, anda as at nightfall she had
not returned; her sister put on her
hood and.shawl and went to the COW
yard if her place. She had been
rejecting 2 good deal as she sat
alone, and had come to the conclu-
sion that she was not acting very
wisely or very kindly in regard to
her sister and Mr.. Sparks, and she
seriously determined to turn square
round and make virtue of necessity.
Woodbine Cottage might be dreary
enough without Maggy; but then, if
Maggy chose to go, why not cheer
fully make the sacrifice of giving
her up? This was the style of
thought to which her busy hands
kept time, when the voice of the man
who had leaning towards the cow
yard fence said, resolutely.


"Good evening, Magdalen."


"Good evening. Mr. Sparks" came
in subdued key from the woman
on the milking stool.


Her face was steadily bent to her
task, and hidden By the brown hood,
which, together with Maggy's shawl,
had deceived the bachelor lover. So
absorbed had Debby been, that she
had not even thought Of the likelihood
of his coming that night: but on the
instant it flashed through her mind
that if a joke was all she could have
out OF the affair which had cost her
so much feeling. why she would
make the most of that, at all events.


Call me Isaiah" rcjoined Mr..
Sparks, tenderly. He hemmed once
or twice, softly, then proceeded:
"Magdalen," he said, "you must be
well aware of the sentiments of warm
affection which | entertain toward
YOU. You have known me long, and
you know my circumstances. i have
come here to light to declare myself,
and to ask you to become my wife" "


There is but one objection" MUIR
INJURED Deborah, rising and standing
just on the opposite side OF the fence
from the bachelor, her face turned
modestly away.


What is that, DEAR be asked
eagerly, reaching over and taking
her hand in his.


MY sister-she would be lefs quite
alone"


30, as to that" he reioined quickly.
with the air of one determined not
to see any impediments in his way,
''she may live with us and welcome
if she will, but at any rate you will
not be far apart. / may consider
myself accepted dearf"


The real Magdalen was not ten
PAGES Off The ecstatic lover would
have hardly noticed the shsiek of an
engine at the sane distance behind
him; her sister, however, had watched
her approach and awaited the right
moment. That moment had come,
and she suddenly turned her face
full on Isaiah Sparks, while the loud
est, merriest peal of laughter rang
on the air that had been heard in the
neighborhood Of Woodbine Cottage
for many day.


The bachelor staggered back, but
recovered himself sooner than could
have been expected.


"Maggy," cried her sister, "you
may as well say good riddance to
your inconstant lover-hc has just
proposed to me-" And herewith
the April evening echoed another
strain of her uncomfortable laughter
Nr Sparks had gone up to Magdaler
and was stammering forth IN eXpla-
nation.


Come. You two foolish chits,
added Deborah, more sincerely
"come into the house and sit down
and finish up Your courtship in re
spectacle style"


So they did, and the next Sunday
their banns were published. The
story of Isaiah's mistake got abroad
and to this day Deborah Peck ha.
her joke about Maggy S husband pro
posing to he~ first.


Gas TO being conflicted with tn,
onnt.r said Mrs. Partinrton. "hicl