Year: 1860







It was very little figure, very little
and slight indeed, but it was quite
enough to make Hugh Hamilton look
away into the cool shadows of the green
orchard over the way, that sunny May
Afternoon, and dream such dreams as
only come to a man once in his whole
life time E


1t seemed very foolish, extremely
foolish, and SO he thought himself, for
man of his age and experience in life, to
be wasting all the long, bright hours of
that May day afternoon, watching for
the little "airy, fairy Lillian" that daily
passed that Office; but, turn his back as
often as he would to the open window,
his eyes constantly wandered to the
square of sunshine that lay so indolently
on the uncarpeted floor, for it was fast
nearing the hour when little shadow
fell there, and he vowed that he would
see that, even if his conscience did re-
prove him for gazing so admiringly at
the substance thereof. s III


The academy bell had rang full a half
hour before, and she nsver was knoun
to be SO late as on this afternoon; and
Hugh Hamilton sat like martyr, gazing
at the floor until his patience was clear
exhausted -'~'


Just then came the echo of laughter,
and very sweet voice said, "Just down
to the old beech tree, girls, you aoiU go
as far as that with me, it is SO very pleas
ant" and the little voice said it SO coax
ingly, that Hugh Hamilton could not,
for his very life, resist the temptation of
looking out. -s-.-ss -r.l


"Of course, Oracle, I knew you would
say that; at first it was only to the cor
ner, then to the orchard, and noao down
to the old beechnut, I suppose
but that was all that foated in to Hugh
Hamilton's ears, and it was left to his
imagination to finish the supposition that
tall, dark -browed school girl had COM
menced; but he did not take the trouble
to do so, for what cared he what she
ssupposed?'' it was full enough that he
had learned the name of his little divinity,
"Grace." Oh! how beautiful she was,
with her sweet, sunny face dimpling with
laughter, while the sunshine FURNISHED
all those tangled curls like gold. The
broad -brimmed hat hung around her
neck in careless way, that Hugh Ham
ilton would have reproved in sister, il
he had ever had one; but the witchine
grace of his little creature made every.
thing she did look charming, even to
the clasping Of her load of books by a
pair Of little dimpled hands entirely in
nc ent of gloves. --.
Oh! Hugh Hamilton: where now i
I'll your pride and fastidiousness, sitting
there while the sun goes down behine
the old apple trees in the orchard ovel
n the way, needing not the soft wind tha
, comes drifting over, laden with the swee


fragrance of their pale pink blossoms?


Hugh Hamilton was bachelor, ant
lawyer. Five years before, he hao
:, closed his Office in large and flourish
e ing city, and registered his name On on


of the Atlantic steamers outward bount
from his native land.


: Some said that Hugh Hamilton wa
/ on the eve of bankruptcy, and must need


come down in his luxurious style of liv
l, ing, or retire, for time, from publ
view to retrieve his scattered fortune


Others hinted that there was some low
2 affair connected with his sudden disap
: pearance, and not few believed that tn
= engagement that just at that time be


came public, of the proud and haught


Anna Danforth with that millionair
from the South, was the true cause c