Year: 1877

| fresh air and qniet scenes; and doubtless
she would have found all the happiness
that she sought in this rural retreat, had
not the place been haunted by the terrible
! spectre-scandal.


"Have you seen the new arrival ?'' said
Mrs. Graves TO her neighbor, Mrs. Wood.
few days after the stranger took pos
session of Fern Dell, as the little place
she had purchased was now called.


A curl of the lip and shrug of the shoul-
der was all the reply made by Mrs. Wood;
but in the gestures Mrs Graves saw, or
supposed she saw, a sufficient season for
stunning the acquaintance of the stanger
Mrs. Graves, who was very jealous and
| suspicious, translated the language Ia her
own way.


81 have no donbt." she said to her hus-
band, THAT she had bad reputation in
the city. She had come here DIRE ssed in
deep mourning, but who knews whether
she ever had husband or not? And if
she had. her wearing black is no sign he's
dead, in my opinion"
The next day quite crowd had gath
cred in the store of Mr.. Graves, waiting
tor the arrival of the mail. which was due
about this hour.


The stranger came in to make some
triiling purchases. and was stared at by
the people. as strangers always are in
small villages.


| After she left the store, some remarks
were made about her ladylike appearance.
Yes. she appears enough like lady,"
said Mr.. Graves; "but my wife thinks her
reputation is none of the best"


Customers entering, nothing more said
at the time, but the fire scandal was kim
dled-the story spread rapidly. each one
telling 1T in their own way. until there was
not person in the village but had heard
the rumor and believed il to be true
Days and weeks passed by, and the in
mate of Fern Dell felt that Tor some rea-
son she was looked upon with suspicion
and dislike.


! There was no hospitality, nothing said
or done that she could demand an expla-
nation.


| Every day seemed to increase the avoid
ance OF her neighbors; and she noticing
this, ceased making overtures towards an
acquaintance with them, sending to the
city for her household supplies, and new
er coming in contact with any one save
at church, and even then she generally
found whole seat at her disposal.
At last the storm that had so long OBJ
Pstured the village horizon seemed about



There were low threats made OF driv-


ing her from the place, and the mob spirit
| seemed to be gathering strength.
| About six months after the stranger
took possession of the house, a very hand
some carriage, drawn by a span of splen-
| did black horses, stepped in front of her
dwelling, and fine looking man about
| sixty years of age with his wife and
two daughters, was seen to alight, and en-
ter the house.


All the day and through the long even
| ing there was heard the sound of many
voices, mingled with the laughter OF Joy
| Gus hearts.


| The next day was Sunday, but this time
the stranger did not sit alone.
Strange looks and low murmured words
ran through the congregation, and the
minister seemed TO share the surprise of
his audience, and looked and preached as
though under painful embarrassment.


He recognized in the stranger clergy
man whose reputation was world wide
none other than the distinguished presl-
dent of the college from which he had
graduated


The president remembered his former
pupil, but 1t must bo confessed that he
was both surprised and disappointed.
lie had given the young man credit tor
individual talent, but the sermon was
mere repetition of poor platitudes. and a
trucking to prudish public opinion, which
showed a weak and little mind.
Alter the service was over the president
waited until the minister came forward,
and when the greetings were over he said
kindly:


| "My sister wrote me that Robert Martin
was preaching here, but do not connect
the name with the memory of my former
pupil.


| "Your sister? said the embarrassed
young man. You do not mean to say
that the woman with whom you entered
church is your sister P'


"And why not ?"
| 1t was the presidents tuin to look as.
| tonished.


Sure enough, why not
What did he know against the woman
whom he had been speaking evil of Tor
| the last half year?
"There is something about this matter
| that cannot understand, said the presi-
dent. "You do not mean to say that my
| sister has been resident of the village,
and listened to Your preaching for six
months, without your calling upon her
The duties OF minister are surely better
Defined


But did not dare !" and the poor man
stammered and stopped.
| "Did not dare to call on my sister, the
| widow of Colonel kimball p' and the
tnge of contempt was mingled with
| look OF surprise aud indignation as he
| contemplated the abashed and crestfallen
young preacher.


After reaching his sisters residence he
questioned her in regard TO the matter;
but she could only tell him that since her
residence in the place she had been .let
Alone" in the common acceptance of the
term.


Determined TO understand the why and
wherefore of such proceeding. be again
demanded an explanation OF the young
pastor, who was finally compelled TO ad-
init that he had supposed, from the gossip
of the church members, that the woman
was very outcast from society, and there
bad been talking OF driving her from the
place.