Year: 1877




home to your Aunt Dilsey. do youp"


AUNT Dilsey isn't going to live for
ever"


"She'll live as long as she can, and
longer than Christian folk. If all they say of
her is true. don't see why should give
six resasons when four are enough.
Father won't hear of it. and he is master
here, aud won't have any one he doesn't
like. These are two good reasons. Then
l can't abide a witch


"Whars'your fourth ? Maybe it's more
sensible than the rest. " said Dick, not lik-
ing the smile on her face.


"Of course IL is. OHe doesn't t give ones
best reason first unless one wishes to have
il overcome. There's father on the porch, ,
and he's got lots of folks with him. That's
what he lives for. He'll never give up
business of his own accord for fear of feel
ing dull"


They were very near the house. and old
Major Jacquette's voice was plainly to be
heard as he laid down the law to listen
ing crowd. .Well, but what's your fourth
reason P" persisted Dick.


THAT Ia rather die than marry you,'
Therese said vehemently.


Maybe you'll change your mind. Life
is sweet, no matter how hard it is. May
be some day you you'll think the coffin and
the worms are not p!easanter than I'll be
to YOU"


Therese was standing at the side gate,
ready to go in. Old Dinah was drawing
water at The well. and had rested her iul
bucket on the side of the well-buX, while
she stood watching them. Dick Diusmore
knew very well that Therese had managed
adroitly TO keep back her decided refusal
until she was safely at her own gate; but
he did not argue i'll Tor himself any symp-
tom OF fear on her part. Indeed, he did
not give her credit tor any such feelings.
though many girl might have bad 1t; but
he was convinced that she was keeping
Alurdoch's name out of the conversation,
and was determined Dicks quarrel with
her should be on too light grounds Tor any
one 10 take up. The very care he was
sure Therese was taking To protect the
young stranger made Dick furious, so that
there was great deal OF suppressed pas
sion in his voice when he said, "May be
you're wise enough to mind Il warning
You'd better tell that young mate on board
the Indiaman to clear out. for | tell you
plainly won't stand him."


"fll tell him, unless you think it will be
the worse Tor you for him to know you
threatened him. Dd.you ever hear though,
how he won his promotion ?" Therese
asked, with sparkle of pride Frightening
her eyes. ''lt's bad thing for II man to
try to be bigger than he really is, and so
the sailor found when the mate knocked
him down."


She did not wait TO hear Dicks answer,
but left him at the gate scowling at her
as she went into the house. Dinah filed
her bucket and went in too, thinking Dick
Dinsmore was more uDcanpy than his
Aunt Dilsey.


Next morning Dlsey passed by the
yard where Therese was feeding the poul-
try. She stopped and watched the girl,
who went on scattering the corn rs ii she
did moi see her, "Yes, yes the old wo-
man called out. "Youre rich, and you re
handsome, and you can afford to scorn
old Dilsey and her belongings. But therell
come time when you'll be glad to take
from her, and think her money good,
witch though she be. Wen see-we'll
see"


Therese did not answer her. She was
sure Dick had told his aunt what he chose
OF her refusal of him, and she did not
care to be questioned about it.
A week had not passed when Murdoch,
either by chance or design, went across
the marsh toward the river. Some people
are lucky, and Murdoch felt he was when
he found Therese was in her own yard.
He stood talking TO her, the fence be-
tween, he resting his arms on the top |
rail, and Therese leaning slightly against |
1t. She was knitting, her fingers flying |
nimbly, and her eyes fast on her work, as
If her needles needed watchng-she VINO
could knit a stocking in the dark. Per-
haps she did not know that Murdoch was
looking at her with something in his gaze
stronger than mere admiration. Present.
ly the soft pink flush deepened on her
cheeks, and grew brighter and brighter
as she listened to him, until suddenly she
looked up at him with vivid, burning
blush on her face, and bashtul vet glad
eyes and then she dropped her stitching
But how could she help II ?lor Murdoch had
caught both OF her hands in his, aud was
covering them with kisses. Silly fellow
but no doubt he saw the folly OF putting
a fence between them, and did the best he
could under the circumstances.


1t was pretty picture TO those who
like such scenes. l confess think, of all
fancy work, love-making is the prettiest.
But there was one pair OF eyes that
watched the pantomine with displeasure.
Black Dick Dinsmore was striding across
the marsh to Old Dilscy's when he caught
sight of Therese. lie never saw that some
one else was on the other side of the fence
until he had changed his course, and he
came into the yard just as Therese re-
leased her hands and stopped to pick up
her knitting.


Continued tomorrow