Year: 1869

gers unloosened the dog. How she
found her way to her room again, ever
after seemed dim and unreal, but there
she lay OH the bed when Donald Nc
Gregor came, in heavy slumber he at
first supposed, but it proved deathlike
swoon.


And where had lie been during this
time? After jamie if he had followed
his better nature, for he was not thor
oughly depraved and heartless man,
though he had all his life, as is too Of
ten the case, been strewing thorns in his
path by endeavoring to govern all
around him by fear rather than love-
Thus it was that he could seldom un-
derstand or sympathize with his family,
or they with him for that matter.


After his anger had subsidized in q
measure he almost hoped jamie would
return. Indeed, be was quite sure she
was somewhere now in the house or
barn So he had complacently laid his
plans that night, while returning from
the village with JAMES, rejected suitor,
how they would soon dispose Of the sil>
ly girls husband, Paul Clifton
The plains of Long Island are in this
day nothing in comparison to what they
were fifty years ago. Then there was
but a dresry waste of tall grass and
stunted shrubs, through which roamed
in summer vast herds of branded cattle
and sheep. And all this is changed
more o. less by the iron band that ira
verses it now, besides which has sprung
up pleasant villages and nesting Gotta
ges, teeming with active life and beau
ty.


Upon leaving her mother jamie had
but one thought, one desire uppermost
10 her mind. and that was TO reach Paul
who was learning trade in great city
as soon as possible. But presently
she became calmer; then her fears be-
gan to magnify every sound, until in
terror she turned and ran toward her
home, where light from the kitchen
glimmerei brightly. Not that she meant
to enter the house; oh no for the few
past hours had taught her that with all
her timidity there was a strength of
purpose in her heart, though it had long
lain dormant; therefore she settled
down beside stack Of new mown hay,
thinking she would remain there a few
hours, then be up and away ere day
light.


But, notwithstanding her resolution,
the feeling of security aud WEAKNESS
caused her eyelids to droop and she
soon forgot her troubles in sound, re-
freshing sleep After a time, how long
she knew not, she was awakened by
something nesting close to her; but her
cry Of fright ended in one Of delight,
for the low, joyful whine that answered
her told her faithful companion was
by her side. Then with a courage and
lightness of heart that strengthened her
beyond expression, she started on her
Journey.


CHAPTER II.


Quietly we must pass over the week
following Janie's departure. Mrs. Me-
Gregor to a casual observer appeared
knew what had transpired. The miss.
ing dog and the swoon had been evil
dence enouge to Donald of what his
wife had done; yet whatever his tho'ts
were upon that subject he guarded them
we'll.


At first Ellen had scolded and fretted
almost constantly, that the child would
go visiting just at harvest time, leav-
ing her with such heaps of work, but in
her heart she we'll knew the trouble was
that she missed her sweet, happy. bird
like voice But where was Nero? She
had scraped his food, meal after meal,
into his dish under the gr eat pear tree,
and called loudly, even ringing the din
ner bell, whose clear clang he had new
er before failed to respond to with a
joyful bark. Then why had his master
ridden swiftly away on his fastest horse
the next morning after jamie left? These
were questions in her mind not easily
answer ed. though her mistress had said
quietly enough-as she held large
feather fan before her face, and asked
Ellen to close window that allowed
the wind to blow on her-that Mr.. Nc
Gregor had gone to see her son Robert,
who was to leave soon for the war in
Canada.


If this quieted her inquisitive nature
for the time, Afr. McGregor's return in
creased her anxiety two-fold, for, turn
ing his favorite horse into the stable, he
stopped not to feed or rub him down-a
thing he had never been known to neg
lect before


'Sakes alive now rs cert'in sure
somefn' to pay, Or my name amt Ell
len Judy Ann johnson ?


And dropping dish cloth and dish
back into the foaming suds, she stole
| SOltly dilSL hCA mootCA oo SOon do uS Ado
entered his wife's room and closed the
door.


Applying her ear to the door, she lis
tened intently. For q moment there
was deep pause, as tho each dreaded
to speak then in trembling, pleading
voice Mrs McGregor asked Thy he had
not brought jamie home. He replied in
s. a low, constrained and unnatural voice.
so little like his usual authoritative tone
that Ellen felt instinctly, with cold
shudder through her frame. something
terrible must have happened, and while
these thoughts rushed through her mind
she lost his answer, which was follow
ed by deep, groan like cry from Mrs.
McGregor, 50 sudden and SO agonizing
| that Ellen snrang back from the door in