Year: 1879

people, to animals was always kind.
Every dumb beast at Deersfield loved
her, from the Alderney COW, whose
aHectlOnate face she stroked every
morning, to the last little golden down
chicken of the white hens brood. She
mad broken to saddle more than one
spirited colt, and her pack of pet dogs
numbered many of formidable breed
one bloodhound.


The rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed Carrie
was an attractive creature as she sat in
the sunlight, feeding the birds, which,
answering her call, sped from the grove
ana allghted fearlessly on her head, her
hands and her shoulders. Mammals
forgiveness was won by the picture.


10 Joe, looking from below, the
VISION was even more picturesque !;
the dormer- window in the gray roof
overhung with vines of wOodbine and
wisterla, the dark recess relieving the
sun-llt figure, the smiling face welcom-
ing the birds.


AS years passed on, the three pretty
school girls became winning and won
young ladies. Belle married first, then
Jane, and now Caroline was engaged
to be married to Charlie Evans, in spite
of the femOnstrance of many of her
friends, who knew the young man to
be as unprincipled in morals as he was
handsome in person.


Willful Caroline answered, to all re-
monstrance 81 have loved him all my
life; like him and have promised
to be his wife"


On the day that this engagement was
announced, Joe sailed from America to
study in Italy his art.


There had been stormy scene the
night before. When Caroline deliber-
ately told Joe that her hand was ire
vocably promised to his long dreaded
rival, Joe's anguish was something too
complete to be hidden its intensity
not what to say to this faithful lover of
years to alleviate his pain. She boldly
sprang to the defensive, and then to
an aggressive course. She sharply,
almost coarsely, reproved him for hav-
ing iavished his heart upon one who
could not by any possibility return his
affection.


They parted more in anger than in
sorrow. Such was Caroline's caprice ;
and Joe, renOuncing all hope of happi-
ness, tried to draw consolation from
the sole reflection 81 have my art"


One August night, Il month before
the time fixed for CarOline's marriage,
a message was brought to her from the
village that lay in the beautiful valley
at the foot of the rolling uplands of
Deersfield. Close under the gateways
there lived Il young woman who had
been for several years seamstress at
"the mansiOD,n and who, gathering to-
gether all her earnings, established her
self with her aged mother in the modest
cottage which she hoped to call home
for happy lifetime. But ceaseless toll
with the needle told upon her strength,
and she had fallen victim to consump-
tion. Her days were nearly numbered,
and she had sent the message to her
''Dear Miss Caroline, who had always
been so indulgent," to please to come
soon as possible to receive dying wO-
mans request.


Caroline, although the hour was late,
said, 81 will go at once" As was her
her errand unattended, and 81 f6fiddfnntgh hef htif
mother "good night" added, "Do not
be alarmed if remain until day ybreak.' p


The moon was full, and the August
night was almost as light as day. But
day never casts such tender enhancing
glances upon its busy word as the shin
ing night gives to its spell-bound king
dom.


Caroline's pathway lay along ter
race bordering n grove of locust trees
of great height, and so foliaged that the
arches of their branches opened per.
spective that seemed, this enchanted
night, more like a temple than grove
Beyond this grove lay the adjoining
country seat where dwelt Charli,
Evans and rs Caroline went slowly
along the path, her gaze penetrated the
recesses of the great trees, as if to res
upon something dear beyond. The darl
eyes grew soft with tender expression
her heart was filed with the image O
her lover, and the vOluptuous atmos
phere of the peerless night held sense
and soul in accord.


Below the terrace lay the fair map 0


widely spreading landscape but Caro-


line had no thought for this scene, an,
did not even glance at it until sh


reached the gate. Then she entered


village lane, and the dreamy look van


ished from her face as she considers


her errand.


The house she entered was a cOttag


SO built that its porch had double Ell
trance. One of these opened into til
dwelling of the poor seamstress th


other had been occupied since May b
a master workman in Il factory beyon
the village, himself stranger to th
region, who brought with him as house
keeper his daughter, a girl of unusu;


beauty, a rustic queen, a blonde of thu
vital temperament which gives [
t youthful health its most expressly
, form. This daughter, Mag Merit
2 became the village belle.


+ AS Caroline entered the porch I'll
, Merritts' portion of the cottage W;
S quite still and dark. On the other sic
S the lattice was thrown open upon Il ga
! den crowded with fragrant plants, al
0 "a faint light cleaned out. The ligl
n was burning in the chamber, wher


after word with the sinking suffer
e and the mother enfeebled by grit
y Caroline decided to remain all night.
n Before midnight the purpose f
d which the mistress of Deersfield h;
g been summoned was duly cOnfided


her ear /; and then sleep fell OH the su
s ferer, and Caroline having dismiss
t, the aged watcher, was alone. S
e turned the lamp low, and drew h
e chair by the window, where the pt
d fume of the garden fiOated in, the mi
n gled breath of carnation and rose. F
e years after that night the scent of the


precious flowers sent a faintness to C;
:, rie's heart and pallor to her lips Ii
1T the poison of deadly plants.


Iy Near midnight, when all was 81
re save the midsummer insects hummi


in the trees, and the distant rippling
y the brook, approaching voices we