Year: 1874

freaks that now and then
take possession of man, and lead him
to do something altogether outside of his
usual routine and contrary to his habits
of life. In the case of man of leisure,
whose inclination naturally forms his
habits, you might easily suppose them
contrary to his inclination, as well. 1t
was a freak of this kind which led Wal
ter Phelps to refuse to join family par
ty, consisting of his own mother and sis
tiers, his younger brother John, and his
cousin, Miss Margaret Sturgis, with her
maiden aunt, They we're to make the
tour of the Northern lakes, and to settle
down for few restfulweeI<s in the Lake
Superior region, returning in time for
the grand climacteric at Saratoga, and the
parting glories of the season at Newport


He wanted little outing quite TO
himself. he said, and said il as one who
was earnest. 1t was something new for
him. He was one of the men fond of
being entertained, and accustomed to be





made much of fond, too, Of his own wo
mankind, and usually quite to be relied
on for escort duty. His mother and
sisters had demonstrated at first but he
told them that, with John in attendance,
they surely would not need him. And
Miss Margaret Sturgis, s his cousin,
maintained that he was quite right. So
they had started for the northwest, and
he for the northeast at about the same
time. He had provided himself with
the muItitudinous equipment of an ang-
Ter, and already he had stopped in two
or three different small villages in New
Hampshire, failing so far to find spot
which the trout and he were agreed in
approving. AZ te-,i


At last, one evening, he was staging it
through the beautiful Pemigewasset val
ley, and watching the sunset glory upon
the hills and over the tranquil river.
They we're just entering little village,
and he turned his eyes by chance-still
Destiny, you see, was playing him as if
he had been pawn on hess-board,
away from the river, crimson with
sunset, to notice on the other side, a pic
turesque old house among the trees. As
they came opposite the door, he saw
standing in it girl whose lovely piquant
face flashed on his sight for a moment
and then vanished, as the stage-driver,
after the manner of his tribe, whipped
up his tired horses into a wild spasm OF
despairing energy in order to drive up in
state to the hotel. Mr.. Phelps had meant
only to spend the night in this little viii
lage of Riverside, but it began to look
to him like good trout region. When
he was shown into a large comfortable
chamber overlooking the river, his con-
viction strengthened; and by the time he
had eaten his neatly-served, well-cooked
supper, he was sure that if the trout did
not come there it was so much the worse
tor the trout.


A soft summer moon was rising as he
went out on the piazza, and he strolled
away in the tempting summer night, and
went-but this was of set purpose and
not at all to be put down to the account
of Destiny-toward the house where he
had seen the vision of fresh, young love.
illness in the doorway. 1t was plctur,
esque old place, square house, the roo
sloping up on each side toward square
erection, which was sort of large-sized
cupalo. The trees that overshadowed
this New England home were old and
stately enough for an English park
naughty looking trees though they be
longed to plain New England people
1 use that word belonged, as if it wer,
not mockery to talk of transient way
farers on this planet as owning the sohC
earth the whispering trees, that were herr
long before they came; that will be here
glowing in the warmth and light of eacl
days sunshine, long after these brief so
journers are dust. Shall property noel
its possessor with its own permanence
There is only one Proprietor, becaus
only one who can outlast his possessions
and when David said, "The earth is tn
Lords" he understood the secret of own
ership.


But Walter Phelps was not of spec
ulative turn of mind; he only though
of the trees as indicating an old estate
"Some of our stout New England yeo
manry," he mused, "who may very like
ly have lived here for generations. Th
old house seems almost as strong as tn
land it is built on--but that girl locke
like an exotic. She must be wort
knowing, if one could only find out
way. But she is not the girl, nor ar
such people as live here the people, t
permit any impertinent familiarity"


Just then Destiny took up the card
again, aud shuffled them for him.


A horse came tearing along the coun
try road at frightful pace. 1t took only
glance to the looker-on to show that b
was running away. The vehicle, sort


Dr.'s sulky, was swaying from side
side, and its occupant had evidently 10
all control of the excited horse NJ


Phelps glanced round. A few rods
the front of him the road turned SUI


denly and sharply, and unless the an


NAL had sense enough to turn with


there was nothing to prevent him froI


dashing everything to pieces against SO


id stone wall. There was no lack of pluC


or of muscle about Walter Phelps.


had been stroke oar of his boats crew


college-he had reserved force enoug


and knew how and where to use it. +


walked lelsurely toward the horse, wi


an air as listless and de9dgee as if he we


in u ballroom; but suddenly he h;


caught the bit with grip like steel, al


the astonished animal stood still in Il


highway, much surprised, no doubt,


this interruption to his high-footed pr


ceedings.


"Much obliged, I'm sure" came


voice from the interior of the carriae


al had been calculating the probabi


ties, and had about concluded that u


II L l.