Year: 1878

I 8 closer acquaintance. Atheline W6s
CITY bred, and OF course she had an
idea that all animals in q pasture
were TO be regarded as savage, and


with bound she reached the top OF q
high stone wall, intending to leap


down on the other side. But on the
other side there ran a wide, deep ditch


nearly fail Of water, and she dared not
/ make the leap. And to go back the
way she had come was impossible, for
the frisky colts were putting their
heels into the air in q way extremely
| terrific to a woman with nerves.
Vert Fales was moving just beyond
the ditch, and directly he glanced up.
An amused expression came into his
face. Atheline could have forgiven
anything but that. And that, never |!
He bounded forward, reached up his
strong arms, and taking her down,
carried her to the firm ground be-
yOnd.


how crimson her face grew!


"HOW dare you >" she cried, holly.


nYOu looked uncomfortable. II
You are offended, save your anger
for some One who will appreciate
IT."


He took up his scythe and resumed
| his labor. Atheline hurried home at
war with everybody. She ate no sup
per and went to her room at eight.
She tried to think herself disgraced
by the free touch OF that country
clown. The hands he had held so
close thrilled under the cold flash OF
their diamond rings the cheek his
soft hair had brushed glOwed red as
wine


Miss Herne wondered what was the
matter with her that she could not
sleep. The night was so warm She
put her wrapper around her and sat
the hours before the dawn away be-
fore her chamber window. When
she went down to breakfast she found
copy OF Mrs. BrOwning's sonnets
on her plate the very book she had
wished for yesterday at dinner and
on opening it little slip of paper Fell
out. And written on it were the
words


"I spoke rudely to you yesterday
/ am repentant. Forgive me-"


Although she had never seen his
chirOgraphy, she knew that Vert
Fales had written 1t. She tore the
paper into shreds, shut the book and
tossed it among the papers on the
table, mentally voWing never TO look
inside of it as long as she lived.


Do not, beg you, get the impress
sion that this heroine of mine was
bad tempered she was only proud
aud angry with herself fer seeming
in any way interested in a vulgar
labOrer.


Da6ora 4I,a yuaaI- vvou ouF che l,ad
learned enough of Vertner Fale's his
tory to force her to respect him. His
father had been a wealthy merchant,
but through the villsiny Of friends
had been reduced to poverty. He
had died shortly sfterward, leaving 8
fragile wife and two sons-Vertner
and Juan. Vertner was in college at
the time, within three months Of
graduation but left at once, and de-
voted himself to the task of comfort
ing his mother. Without the means
to pursue the study OF the profession
he had chosen, he had given 1t up,
and engaged himself as q day labOrer
on the farm of Mr.. Marshall, where
his remuneration was sure He had
tOiled early and late, besides doing
copying for city register, in order
that he might be able to defray the
expenses OF his brother at the univer-
sity where he was studying for the
ministry. For Juan Fales was q
youth OF rare promise, but alas he
was blind


Atheline heard the whole story,
with many touching little additions,
from Mrs. Marsbsll (; but she listened
with apparent Indifference, and did
not remark upon it when the old lady
had finished.


A few years afterWard, Vertner
Fsles was surprised by receiving from
the treasurer Of the H Univer-
sity a receipt in full for two years. ex-
pense yet remaining TO complete his
brothers. tuition.


On writing to the gentleman he had
only been able to ascertain that the
amount Of the receipt had been paid
by person TO the treasurer unknown
who stated that it was done by one
strongly interested in the education
OF the blind.


Vertner was mystilied but a great
load was lifted from his shoulders.
He could now give his mother some
comforts of which she had been de-
MED, and which were essential to her
enjoyment. And seeing her so much
happier he went about with lighter
heart, and the people at Mr.. Mar
shall's wondered what had made
such q change in Fales. Atheline said
nothing, but had she chosen she
might have explained the mystery.
The summer wore away. 1t was
very delightful at the Marshall farm
Atheline grew more attached to the
place every day. But her city friends
were impatient to welcome her re-
turn, and so the last day of August
came, and she was to leave Alderville
on the Ist OF September.


Toward sundOwn she went for
walk in the south pasture where the
ssters grew. It was long walk, and
the sun was sinking into q mass of
inky clouds low lying ia the west be-
| fore she was TeSdy to return. The
wind muttered dOlefully in the pine
trees it was falling darS very fast,
and along the line of black clouds she
caught the glimmer OF lightning.
| There was a storm gathering.
She hurried on, her hair tumhling
about her shoulders in rippling mass
es, her scarf lost, and her bare back

swept by the electric wind. She
caught the first hcarse peal of thunder
soon, and directly a cold drop of rain
! fell on her forehead. 1t was useless TO
attempt to reach the farm by the rOEd
| before the tempest should set in, and
/ there was no house nearer. A mo-
ment she stood still in despair. Then
suddenly it flashed upon her-she
could cross the river by the railroad
| bridge it would lessen the distance


more than one half, end she had the


utmost confidence in her ability to
keep a steady head. Not once did she


think Of the evening express train


which was even then due, so anxious
was she to reach home before the
storm broke. She flew toward thC
bridge. 1t vas high narrow struc'
ture, spanning the stream at the mar
rowest point, while underneath watel
rosred madly over the sharp rocks


Beneath the ties which upheId tn
rails was sheeting OF zinc to protee
the timber from moisture, but bardI,
equal to the duty of supporting thI
I weight of a human being. AsheIint