Year: 1877

find buyer. / only wish she coulC
raise the money and buy it herself'


1t was, therefore, as the n1istres,
of the renovated mansion behind the
naples at the turn of the road tha
Barbara Hawkins was considering
/ herself when tea-time came, and she
was quite willing to hurry back into
the parlor while her ready-handed
step mother supervised their solitary
"help in putting away the tea.
things.


By the time poor Bill Emmons
made his appearance, after his long
days drudgery in the one law Office
of the village, where he was the
junior, and therefore perhaps the
working, partner-by that time Bar
bara was ready, ciyilly as she reeeiv-
ed him, to wish he would postpone
his call until she could "receive him
in so much better STYLE And yet
that night, Of all nights, the young
lawyer had made up his mind to put
his fate to the test, land win or lose
it ALL


Not a bad fellow was Bill, and lie
had more than once reflected how
charmingly convenient was the loca-
tion Of the Hawkins homestead, and
what a tremendous liftthe possession
of that and the productive little
farm belonging thereto woull give
to a struggling young lawyer like
himself. The fact that he was over
head and ears in love with Barbara
made the whole affair absolutely
beautiful.


Sad was the trial to his impatient
feelings, therefore, when all the elo~
quence of which ne was master
only resulted in obtaining for him a
promise from Barbara that she
. would consult her step-mother."


Such a change it would make for
her if l should leave her p sighed
Barbara.


Not at all, not at ALL eagerly
exclaimed Bill. She could live
with US, you know. Every body
likes her. I'm sure l do. She
wonldn't be in the way at all.'





But vain was all he could say or
do, except that Barbara's vision Of
he Grover farm and house may
have receded somewhat as she listen
ed to The pleading of her suitor.-
She almost hoped Dan might not
come that evening, for not only the
present situation had its charms, but
it might have its perils as we'll. Dan
Grever was not a man to be trifed
with, she knew, for all his quiet, self
contained ways.


And so it was with something of q
feeling of relief that Barbara listen
ed, at last, to the hour of the Dig
kitchen clock stricking nine.


1t as at the same instant that the
shadows Of two who were walking
side by side in the moonlight fell on
the gate in asingular unified manner;
and then, as the gate opened, Bar
bara sprang to her feet with slight
exclamation. She had been sitting
close to the low window-seat, and
she bad not seen fit, or had forgotten
to light a lamp.


There may or there may not have
been any cause for surprise, but the
way of it been this: No sooner
were the tea-things out of the way
than Mrs. Hawkins remembered an
errand she had in the village, and
had slipped quietly out to perform
ii. Nor would so simple a matter
lave taken two long hours, but that,
iast as the widow was stepping
across the little foot-bridge at the
brook, the form of a tall, broad
shouldered, vigorous man Of, say,
tiirty-fve summer stood before her,
and a deep voice remarked,


fright about face. please. l
gant a bit of talk with you, and
Tered be no chance for it at the
house"


Not word said the widow, as
Dan Grover drew her arm in his, but
She hought, ''If he wants to speak
ol Barbara, he's right, for Bill EN-
mons must be there by this time
n nat fool she is (! He don't begin
10 compare with Dan


It must be confessed, however,
shat it seemed wonderfully pleasant,
even when Dan turned up the
sladowy lane toward the grove, and
wren he. seemed disposed to put off
AS express business and to talk Of
is farm and his house. and at last
Of himself.


4 have every thing around me
4Ssd as nicely as 1 could ask for, -
uc re enarked at length; " but l grow
oaelier every day. The fact is, I've
determined to have wife, if | can
get the one ! want; but there's only
ore in all the wide world. I'd be
lonelier than / am now with any
other.''


$ Why don't you speak to her,
lhen?'' said the widow, with a half
cilvked feeling in her throat, She's
a very sensible girl, but 1 don't
tbi4k it would be right for me to try
to influence her. / believe woman
las no right to marry without low
in r


&a4SA do Ale eHbuALS S--hStN NhhSL
eas from Dan ordinarily calm. slow
st3 le-was his responsive query -
. lave you always been of that
opinion? Have you acted on it?


The plump, soft hand on his arm
vas jerked away in an instant, and
8arbara's step-mother was almost
sobbing with angry and wounded
Jceling, as she stepped back from
hsa. exclaiming, How dare you
u aat have you to do with that P
ask Barbara for her secrets, if you
will. Mine are mine own.'


Exactly" responded the steady
minded Dan, but his voice was
shaking now in spite of his self
control. = You have told me mart OF