Year: 1877

l remember---and she is sort of smart look
ing now, think


b "She looks we'll enough, but she is
mighty proud in deacon's
wife. Her name was Grace---Martha
Grace; you know Thaxton was most crazy
after her..


Miss Dunlap paused, and looked into the
fire. thought 1 knew she had spite
against the deacon for being bewitched by
Martha Grace, when she herself was in the
bloom of youth. She commenced knitting
and talking


"This girls father is in Boston about
some business, and she is going to stay here
this winter. | should think it would kill
her, after that climate. They've given her
the strangest name; it's been running over
in my head ever since | heard it---Runee,
Runee Grace"


A week after that, as | was carrying my
mother up to the village, she wished me to
stop, and leave her while at Deacon
Thaxton's she had not called there in a
long time, and she owned she was little
curious to see Mrs. Thaxtons niece. Would
/ go in with her?


The very question gave me a tremor Of
fear and delight. No, i would not go in
| would stop for her when | came back. |
caught tleeting glimpse of the pale attrac-
| tive face through the window, as | drove
away. 1t did not leave me once during the
time that l traded at the store, and with
the farmers. When l stopped my horse at
Thaxton's gate, the front door was instantly
opened, for my mother had been watching
for me. She came out, and Miss Grace fol-
lnygo1 har down tho pofbxunu Che haI
hastily thrown thick wrap of Mrs Thax-
she leaned on the gate. thought her more
beautiful than ever, and my heart beat
heavily as she extended her hand to me,
and said to nay mother, who was waiting for
me to help her into the carriage.


You did not know that had seen your
son before, Mrs. Lyons. He once guided me
through the unknown wilderness that lies
between your house and this. If didn t
thank you at the time, Mr.. Lyons, was
none the less grateful"
stood like the witless Ounce | was, not
knowing what to say; | was too wildly
i conscious OF the touch of those fingers to
have had even my usual self possession at
my command. My mother relieved me by
speaking.


Indeed, did not know he had seen you
---he had never mentioned you to me; and
in such a little village as this we are always
interested in new comers."


She laughed


THAT is unfortunate; l am to suppose
that was not of sufficient importance to
be mentioned"


My mother was now in the carriage !
turned and said:


TO tell the truth, Miss Grace, was al
most sure that l dreamed | saw you coming
down that path from the woods. did not
think of telling our meeting for fact, no
more than should have thought of relat-
ing as such vision of the night"


Am l, then, very ghostly?" she asked.


Not ghostly; a vision is not necessarily
a ghost. / am happy to be convinced that
you are tangible and will not fade away, SO
that may hope for another meeting"


She smiled sweetly, not distantly.


al am SO tangible that think of trans
forming myself into a Yankee girl. Can ]
tell you anything more practical than
thatY


"No; that satisfies me. Now I may hope
to see you again"


/ bowed and drove away.


The days OF that last autumn month ran
rapidly on. went to the little social gath.
erings, the lectures, the singing schools, be-
cause Miss Grace, true to her promise ol
becoming Yankee girl, went to them. Az
first l stood somewhat aloof; bolder young
men talked with her more than did She
was great favorite with all even the
girls liked her. The sudden flashes o
unique simplicity charmed them, and dis
sipated envy, Evening after eve ling / hat