Year: 1877

the garden, being always more lnteresteu III
outdoor than in door employments.


Their most congenial neighbor, and one who
soon gave evidence of a friendly desire to be Of
use to them, by giving them all the advice and
assistance in his power, was DR.. Lennox, an
elderly gentleman from Louisiana, who lived
on a pretty place about two miles distant from
theirs. His family consisted only of an in
valid daughter, young lady of about twen-
ty-two years of age. That is to say, her faith
er chose to consider her an invalid, because
she had, for some years before leaving their
native State, suffered from sort of nervous
debility, which, however, had been greatly
mitigated by change of climate, and was
now more imaginary than real, 30 that she
continued to enjoy the privileges ofill,health,
without suffering much from its discomforts.
She took great fancy to the little Lyndhursts,
and insisted upon their coming very often to
see her. Aud, to their fathers very great sat.
isfaction, before many weeks had elapsed, pro-
posed to become their teacher in their daily
studies, provided they did not object to the
trouble of going over to Los Pinos ranch each
morning and returnngin the afternoon. Ma
jor Lyndhurst, as he was now called, made an
arrangement for Roger to drive them over
and back in the little wagon, which was now
their pleasure equipage, the old man being
quite willing to undertake the Office, for moth
ing gave him greater delight than to be in at
tendance upon them. Miss Lennox, who was
really exceedingly well-informed, and had,
moreover, what all well-informed people do
not possess, that is, talent for imparting what
she knew, proved herself a most efficient in
structress, as we'll as charming companion,
for she was the most amiable, good-tempered
person imaginable, when once she could lay
the recollection of her ailments aside. This,
to her credit be it said, she could generally
do whenever anything of Importance called
for her attention. miss Annie" soon became
a great authority with Rose ahd Evelyn and
while her society was of great benefit to them,
theirs in turn was an exceeding pleasure to
her in her comparatively lionel ly position. The
two fathers also became good friends, and
passed much of their time together. 1t was
an unexpected happiness to Major Lyndhurst
to find so cultured and congenial mind in
the seclusion of this mountainous region,
where, if the truth must be told, he had look
ed only for the society of comparative bar.
barians.


Roger might have felt slight degree Of
jealousy at the suddenness and rapidity Of
this new intimacy, had it not been for the
kindness and consideration displayed by DIR.
Lenuox and his daughter always to him.
They seemed to understand exactly the foot
ing upon which he stood in the family, and
always took care to treat him just as he liked
to be treated The old man learned before
long to think as highly of them both as did
his master and his young ladies, and to count
it an especial piece of good.fortune that they
had been thrown in each others way.


Dr.. Lennox, discovering his English friends
anxiety to embark upon the dangerous sea of
speculation, tried earnestly to dissuade him
from so precarious venture. "My dear sill"
he said to him when first the subject was
broached, and Major Lyndhurst had been
descanting eagerly upon the merits of GER
tain silver mine near by, and the feasibility of
purchasing stock from the company which
controlled it, "that mine of which you hear
such glowing accounts, is in the hands of a
band of sharpers, who will take the very eyes
out of your head if you will give them a
chance. Putting your money into their hands
would be exactly like pouring water through
sieve. You would never see dollar of it
again rely upon it"


"But is not the mine good one?"


every likely it is; but under present man.
agement it is not safe one to have anything
to do with. Wait few years, until more
trustworthy set take the control of it, and
then you may be able to invest in it with
profit"


"a few years." repeated Major Lyndhurst,
to whom this seemed long time to wait.
"Well, how about the - mine and the -"
(naming two other mines of Importance in the
same locality.) "Are they any safer ?"


"Not a whit-not whit" responded the
doctor, with energy. "Take my advice and
don't touch one of them, unless you want to
get your fingers burned"


Major Lyndhurst looked melancholy.
"You don't mean to tell me" he said, "that
you have not invested in any of these stocks,
when you have such excellent opportunities
for doing so to your advantage ?"


"I invest! No, sir, I can't afford to throw
away my money. am waiting, as | advise
you to do, until the thing can be done in safe.
ty. In the meantime. concentrate my at
tention on the cultivation of my land in this
feel confident of success. Why don't you
plant vineyard on your place? You have
an admirable site for one there In few
years you would find it exceeling y profitable" !"


''Do you think so ?" eagerly rejolned the
Major. "Why, in that case, | think l will
set about it at once-only | have no expe-
rence in vine-growing."


THAT does not matter. There are plenty