Year: 1874

When Lucy Hargrove first came to Oakland
there was great stir in the rural population.
The advent of a real city belle-one of the very
ton-was too unusual an event to fail of produ.
cling sensation, and SO every gossiping tongue
was set wagging, and the family history of all
the Hargroves from Adam down was duly
discussed. There was gap in the history,
however. Two.and-twenty years ago, Gerald
Hargrove, the last of his family, had gone
from Oakland to live in the great city, and
his life was hidden from his old associates,
save by occasional glimpses Of his wealth and
greatness which seemed almost fabulous to
those who had once known him as the pale.
faced student striving to ascend the rugged
heights of knowledge. Rumor said he had
married city lady, but Of his domestic life
nothing was known.


The Hargrove estate, consisting of an old
dilapidated farm, had never passed from his
hands. For a score Of years old Abram
LawhoTn had titled its sterile acres, and
yearly had met its landlords lawyer TO pay
over trivial sum, for the old farm barely
paid the taxes and necessary repairs.


So, now, when the daughter Of Gerald Har.
grove has suddenly come to Oakland, un-
heralded and unattended, it is not strange that
many wild rumors should be set aAoat con
cerning the strange occurrence. Nor was the
wonder lessened when the next Sunday, at
the village church, vision Of dazzling beauty
arrayed in the most costly fabrics, sailed up
the aisle and took seat directly in front Of
the sacred desk; and when the service was
ended the vision departed, walking briskly
yet gracefully away in the direction of Har.
grove Farm.


In vain did the good-natured gossips ques-
ton Abraham Lawhorn and his wife. They
know only what Miss Lucy had seen ft to
communicate, viz. that her mother was dead,
that she was an only child-that her father
had broken up his household, and that she
was to remain at the farm all summer. Upon
this meagre intelligence many story was
builded, and many dissimilar cause assigned
as the reason for this step, but, as is generally
the case, they were all quite far from the
truth.


Summer riptnded into autumn, and the
affair was still sealed book to those who
sought to pry into its closed lids. 1t was
known that the weekly mail brought bulky
packages to thesecluded belle-those who had
formed speaking acquaintance found her
civil and respectful, but surrounded with so
much well-bread dignity and courteous reserve
as to utterly forbid all approaches to familiar.
ties. To all invitations to picnics and merry
makings decided but courteous refusal
was returned, till at last all attempts to draw
her in the circle Of Oakland society was
abandoned in sheer despair.


twas one day in early autumn that Felix
Graham, awkward Felix he was called,
was returning through the Hargrove Farm
from an unsuccessful quest Of small game.
He walked carelessly along near the edge Of
the ravine, when a clumsy step threw him
headlong over the crumbling brink. As he
fell on the rocky bottom his niece was dis
charged, and the contents thereof entered his
side, and the poor fellow, with groan, fell
back insensible. When he awoke from the
death-lke swoon soft hands were adjusting \
bandage about the wound in his side, and
radiantly lovely, but tear-wet face was bent
over him, as an angel Of mercy might bend
over the morally fallen man. He knew that
face, for once when he had performed a little
favor for her, he had received a smiling
Thank You, sir, from tho sweet lips Of Lucy
Hargrcve. He groaned with rain, and the
girl looked into his face.


Thank Godi'i she aspirafed, then hurriedly
added


''Be quiet, pray, till summon assistance. .


Like fash she was gone, and Felix Ora
ham wondered il Il were not all dream.
No--that burning deadening pain at his side
was real that pool Of blood was real, and
that walter in his hat was too welcome 10 be
an illusion. Across his brow he felt some.
thing moist, and removing Il he found
dainty handkerchief with the monogram IL.
H. in one corner.


BY the time the weakened and hall wander.
ing mind had realized all this, he heard voices
coming near. IN another minute Abram
Lawhorn, John, his son, and Peter Crimes,
the hired man, led BY Lucy Hargroye. came
% the spot where he lay Lucy bent over him
again, and tenderly inquired how he felt.


Better, ! reckon ALTERED he, s.but xhnt
is the matter with me n