Year: 1877




not to add to herself; 80 much the bet
ter, too, for Mrs. Hawkins. Neither
Dan nor l would object to her living
ut the old place till we could find
buyer. only wish she could raise the
money and buy it herself"


1t was, therefore, as the mistress of
the renovating mansion behind the ma
pies ut the turn of the road that Barbara
Hawkins was considering herself when
tea time came, and she was quito willing
to hurry back into the parlor while her
ready handed step-mother supervised
their solitary "help" in putting away the
toa-things.


BY the time poor Bill Emmons made
his appearances, after his long days
drudgery in the one law office OF the vii
lage, where he was the junior, and there
fore perhaps the working, partner-by
that time Barbara was ready, civlly as
she received HIM, to wish he would post
pone his call until She could receive
him in so much better style" And yet
that night, of all nights, the young law
yer had made up his mind to put his fate
to the test, land win or lose it all"
| Not bad fellow was Bill, and he had
more than once reflected how charmingly
convenient was the location Of the Haw-
kins Homestead, and what n tremendous
! lift the possession of that aud the produc-
tive little farm belonging thereto would
give to II 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 icol-
ings, therefore, when all the cloquonce
Of which he was master-and he had long
considered himself master Of the situation
as well-only resulted in obtaining for
him Il promise from Barbara that she
would consult her step-mother"


"Such change it would make for her
if | should leave her ~ sighed Barbara.


"Not at all, not Mt ALL" eargery ex-
claimed Bill. "She could live with US,
you know. Everybody likes her. I'm
sure do. She wouldn't be in the way at
ALL"


But vain was all he could say or do,
except that Barbara's vision of the Gro
yer farm and house may have reeeded
somewhat as she listened TO the pleading
of her suitor. She almost hoped Dan
might not come that evening, for not on
ly tho present situation had its charms,
but it might have its perils as we'll Dan
Grover was not man to be trilled with,
she knew, for all his quiet, self contain
cd ways.


And so it WAS with something of feel
ing OF relief that Barbara listened at last,
to tho bur of the big kitchen clock strk-
ing nine.


1t was the same instant that the shadow
Of two who were walking side by side in
the moonlight fell on the gate in II sinRu-
arly unified manner and then, as tho
gate opened, Barbara sprang to her feet
with a slight exclamation. She had been
sitting close to the low window. seat, and
she had not seen fit, or had forgotten, to
light lamp.


There may or there may not have been
any cause Tor surprise, but the way Of it
had 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 it. Nor would so simple mat
ter have taken two long hours, but that,
just as the widow was stepping across the
little foot-bridge at the brook, the form
OF tall, broad shouldered, vigorous man
OF, say, thirty-fve summers, stood be
fore her, and n deep voice remarked


Right about lace, please. | want n
bit of talk with you, and thered be no
chance for it at the house"


Not a word said the widow, as Dan
Grover drew her arm in his, bat she
thought, "If he wants TO speak of Barba-
IA, he's right, for Bill Emmon5 must be
there by this time. What II fool she is !
lie don't begin to compare with Dam"


1t must be confessed, however, that it
seemed wonderfully pleasant, even when
Dan turned up the shadowy lane toward
the grove, and when he seemed disposed
10 put Oh his express business and 30 talk
Of his farm and the house, aud ut last
himself.


II have everything around me fixed as
nicely as / could ask for," he remarked,
at length "bLt | grow lonelier every
day. The fact is, I've determined 20
have a wife, if can get the one | want;
but there's only one in all the wide world.
I'd be onlier than am now with any
other"


"Why don't you speak to her, then ?"
said the widow with half-choked feel
ing in her throat. "Shc's very sensible
girl, but | don't think it would be right
for me to try to influence her, believe
n woman has no right to marry without
loving"


Quick as lightning very different from
/ Dams ordinary calm, slow style his
responsive query: "IIave you always
been of that opinion Have you acted on
it?"


The plump, soft hand on his arm was
jerked away in an instant, aud Baroara's
step mother was almost sobbing with
angry aud wounded feeling, as she step
ped back from him, exclaiming, 81 How
dare you What have you TO do with
that? Ask Barbara for her secrets, il
you will. Mine are my own"


Exactly" replied the steady minded
Dan, but his voice was shaking now in
spite of hi, self control. - You have told