Year: 1875

still slept. I took from my small pocket
book its contents and hurried back, and
Just as L had left him found the boy
1 placed the money had brought into
his hands, then whispered, eco and
sin no more"


He caught my hand, and while hot
tears fell upon it, kissed it. "God
bless your sweet face, shall never for
get it," he murmured, then passed
down the path and out Of my sight.


With q warm feeling around my heart
I went softly back to my bed and was
soon fast asleep. 1t was about eight
o'clock when my slumbers were again
interrupted by shrill voice ut my ear
crying:


"Josie, he has gone, after all my
pains; it's too bad; all Johns fault; I'll
never forgive him, no, never"


Poor John protested he had fastened
the door, but it was no use talking.
She believed through him she had lost
her captive, and aunt from that day
ceased to have any confidence in the
poor fellow.


Our sleep after that was unbroken, and
the years carried me safely to my twentieth
birthday. was called very pretty girl
at that time, with handsome pair of
dark eyes and a wealth of golden hair, that,
let me confess There, Iprided myself very
much on. had several admirers among
the young gentlemen of the village, but
had never felt any great inclination for
them, and on nthataccount had acquired the
name of being rather proud and cold.
Aunt Mary, who had not grown younger
m haffar- &I,o g.
predicted my becoming an old maid. AS
ed, still 1 could not bring myself to
accept any of the illustrious names
offered.


Ours was pretty little place, and for
the past two years had become quite
resort for city people in the summer
months. I used to look with envious
eyes on the pretty, snowy ladies and
gallant gentlemen that fitted before my
vision like gay birds, and who acted as
though the world was made for their sole
enjoyment, and after the summer had
passed, taking them with it, my foolish
heart grew harder and harder towards
my country swains, and stronger the
longing to get away from them all, and
out into the world that my only real
plOdoluc WIS W Tedu aDOuC.


1t was on beautiful afternoon in the
latter part of June, that, returning from
the post-office, passed the hotel. say
the hotel, for it was the only one the
town afforded. The stage had just ar
rived, and as went by gentleman
stepped from it. For an instant paused
involuntarily to look at him. He was, L
suppose, twenty-five, not more, tall, with
tho honIcnn,nof fo,o II h,I
found myself blushing deeply as met
the glance of his dark, earnest eyes, and
with averted face quickly passed him.
Alas! for poor Will May, that 1 met
shortly after, and who walked with me
towards my home. AS the face had
just seen rose before me more silent did
L become, shorter my answers to his no
doubt witty remarks. / was glad to get
to my own room, where alone let my
thoughts rest uninterrupted on the
handsome stanger. Not long was per-
mitted to do so, Tor my aunt called me
to make biscuits for tea. / went down;
better for ali had 1 remained where l
was. l do not know as 1 was in love,
for the honor of my sex hope not, but
L must have been blind, for instead of
the white sugar I should have taken 1
used salt. Heavens! see to this day
my aunt's face as she tasted one.


A week went by, and though I had
heard the strangers name, 1 had not
seen him, save in the dreams that visited
me nightly. Several of the girls calling
on me had spoken of the handsome gen
tleman stopping at the Lion, and sighed
to think he was beyond their reach.
How hated my life at that period, with
its same dreary routine. The sound of
my aunt's voice as she called me at six
o'clock in the morning, Josephine
Josephine going to sleep all days"
would dispel the castles I was building
and send me back to the endless making
of bread and cake. How I longed to
get away from the sewing she had al
ways ready for the long afternoons, and
out into the woods and fields !


We were going to have picnic, and
the guests of the hotel were to favor us
with their society. All was excitement,
for 1t was not often we had the pleasure
OF being In the company of gentlemen
who wore their hair parted in the middle
and called us deuced pretty girls. The
day came. Don't think me vain, reader,
If tell you that 1 looked lovely. 1t is
some years ago, and could see that I
did, by the whispering among the girls
and by the envious glances they cast at
me, also by some tender ones I received
from the opposite sex. We were at our
first dance when the gentlemen from the
Lion arrived. felt my heart beat
quickly, as saw among them Edwin
King, for 80 my stranger was called.
Truly king in manly beauty, J. thought,
as 1 looked at his tall, graceful form,
into the strangely handsome face. As
he saw me his eyes lit up, and coming
forward he begged my hand for the
next dance. 4 assure you, gentle reader,