Year: 1877

such q beautiful girl in your life 7"
was the complimentary exclamation
Of Fred Hastings, as he and his
friend Harry Ramsey passed through
the toll gate on the busy turnpike
between the thriving little cities OF
Byfeld and Dayton.


The subject of the remark was the
person who had collected the toll--a
blushing, handsome girl of eighteen
summers, whose dark-brown eye-
lashes dropped shyly over the brown
eyes when she met the admiring
gaxe Of the aforementioned young
gentleman as he handed her the re-.
quisite change.


"Yea WILL" was the answer, 81
think your sister Margaret is every
inch ~ beautiful. But, indeed, the
toll.keeper's neice, Day Fielding. is
n beauty, there is no denying that,
but you might as we'll try to reach
Che san in balloon as to get near
enough TO her TO whisper Q single
word Of your admiration for her
graceful figure ani handsome face
She is guarded most jealously by
two argus-eyes monsters, in the
shape of an old aunt and uncle, who
never allow her to see man il they
can help Il. This is tho iirst time in
D whole year have seen her collect
the toll. reckon one of the old
folks must be sick, or they never
would have allowed her to collect
toll from two such good. looking fel.
lows Oh you and I. Fred She comes
OF a formerly wealthy family, is well
educated, and far above her present
surroundings"


Harry" laughed Fred. 81 believe
/ have fallen in love at first sight
with that girl, and mean to marry
her some day. What will you give
me as q wedding present, old boy p


"Hs, ha ~ was tho reply, "don't
court too fast. Get the girl first
and then ask me that question


Fred Hastings, the only son Of q
wealthy merchant in New York, and
at present q visitor OF his friend
Harry Ramsey, had never known an
ungrateful wish in all the twenty
four years OF his natural life, 30 the
thought Of an obstacle In the path
of his wishes gave q new sest to his
sudden desire to overcome that OBJ
stacle.


Towards the close Of the next day
an old man, careworn and feeble
knocked at the toll house to beg 70,
. glass OF water. Mr.. and Mrs
Smith were kind hearted old people,
and not only gave him the required
glass Of wSter, but requested him tc
come In aud rest before continuing
his journey. He gladly accepted
and after seating himself began q
conversation, during which they dis
covered In him q distant relative
who had been thought dead foi
many years. This discovery gave
rise to an invitation to spend tht
approaching night with them, which
olfer was as eagerly accepted as The
first invitation TO rest.


At supper time their iieice, Mis-.
Day Fielding was introduced to hel
new cousin, whose shaggy head bow
cd quietly 10 her sweet smile aflt
proffered hand.


During the evening tho stranger
told his intention OF raising o music
class In the adjacent cities, as he WA
q professor in the art, and begget
they would allow him ths privilege
of giving their neioe instructions a
q payment Tor their great kindness
in Offering him q nights lodging
After considerable coaxing he gain
cd their rather unwilling consent
and then proposed giving her th
first lesson that evening.


II Day Fielding was beautiful II
feature aud form, her voice was NOR
beautiful in sweetness and power
She was proud Of her voice, thougl
Il had never been cultivated, for
strange TO say, it, exquisite beaut,
had never been known 70 her parent
as II had developed to IL ful
strength since her residence with he
kind relatives.


The strange cousin professed hin
self perfectly delighted with be
"wonderful talent" ~ be called ]
and In Q short time they were deepl
engaged In trying scales, exercise
and songs which he drew from th
"ia hand-satohel BY bis aide.