Year: 1860

, nad DCcn ne2fu 10 say, IN the presence VI
some twenty or more persons, that whoever
he had the good luck to find meddling with
his early fruit, he would treat i'll a manner
not over and above palatabie. No little stir,
| say it occasioned, because the good people
of the thriving, populous village all wanted
to learn Gas all good people do) who the
trespasser upon the grounds Of the richest
farmer in the parish might be-


But i'll vain each man looked into his
neighbours face for some trace of guilt and
eyed askance every rollicking gster that
walked along the street-nothing could be
learned Of the unrul y marauders; till at last
the villagers hnted that the wealthy bache-
lor was more frightened than hurt, and that
he only raised the outcry to frighten thieves
away from his premises that no one would
dare to venture through the plantations, or
get within the shadows Of the old, solemn,
ghostly- y-looking grange, for the sake of a
few apples.


But there was little mystery about the
affair that the people of Cranston could not
see through; not that it was so very deep
and profound that it was proof against all
solution on the contrary, it was the simplest
matter in the world, or would have been, |
mean if they had only known how to solve
it. For that part, it was just like any 9TH
er puzzle. They could easily conceive the
possibility and probability of wild set of
nschievous urclins, or frolicksome young
men. and even company of unprincipled
'vagabonds disturbing the quiet of the farm
er's orchard but further than that their ideas
could not find way. Had they been told,
i'll confidence, that the morning after the
depredatons there were inEumerable tracks
OF tiny, dainty shoes upon the green turf
and soft brown soil Of the shrubbery, that in
one place was found small kid glove, and
and in another quite bit of cam brio hand
kerchief, with the name Of the owner deli
,cately traced in one corner-had they been
told this, [ say, they would have better un-
derstooi the quiet way in which the owner
treated the robbery, and the profound silence
which he kept when the subject was discuss
ed in his presence. But they did not know
and SO they secuted at the whole affair, g
= = g
richest and most honored man in the village
was concerned.


But one day, when the little wonder had
,quite died out in the village. to those who
an event of some Importance brewing. All
day, in the old brick house opposite, the
laughing, mischievous school girls were
knotted together in various places, chatting
in low, confidential tones. School over, the
merriest of the lot sat Down upon the green
turf, and bent their wise heads together,
and said so many funny things, and made
such number Of comical suggestions upon
the matter which they were discussing, that
the whole air rang with their laughter. -
Just over the way from the young ladies'
academy" the stately house of Mr.. Waters
cleaned out from the plantations and shrub
berry that surrounded it-looking so royal
and grand, SO like some old, ancient castle,
with its arching porticos and snowy turrets,
and above all so formidable and threatening g
in its aspect, that none but a set of mad-cap
schoolgirls would have dared to plan against
ITS peace and quiet


But, from the many roguish glances, and
bright suggestive smiles that were directed
to it during the day, it was quite evident
that the old mansion and it's grounds was
the subject of their thoughts and plans. At
night the question was proved beyond a
doubt; for when the village was still and
quiet, and the moon sailed clearly up the
blue steep Of the sky, pouring her rays Of
silvery light upon the old grange, strange
procession Of reckless, merry lasses stole
into the wide, old gate, that led through the
formal old garden to the coveted orchard.
ITor aybi1a tbo1 uyoupI 1opr 4bo cL y
walk; they were silent and cautious, hardly
daring to breathe sentence above whis.
>per but each moment they gained courage
and before they had traversed through hal
the grounds their mirth got the better Of
their fears, and they laughingly joined thei,
leader in a plan to capture the owner if he
should trouble them.


The one that shall catch him first shall


have him. broke in "a light musical voice
above the buzz and laughter Of the party


'Good, good,' answered another, ''bu


that will be Kate Weston, our Captain


Kate. [ am sure, for she can outrun any
girl in Cranston. Why, girls, she goes il
like deer!!''


Hush, hush n' Captain Kate turned
about suddenly as she spoke. and held up
one white hand threateningly towards the
party. ''If you mention the old ogre's
name he'll be sure to be out here. Remem-
ber, his apples are dearer to him than his
gold for, like many men, he thinks more
of having his stomach we'll filed than his
pocket


How beautiful she looked, standing up
there in the cool, clear moonlight, daring
Kate Weston There was deal of pride
about her slender, willowy form-in the way
she carried her head, flashed her great hazel
eyes, and curved her tempting, rosebud
mouth. And now, as she spoke of Farmer
Waters, her whole face seemed to glow with
an expression nearly akin to scorn. For
sbme reason, no one knew what, she had
taken bitter dislike to the great man of the