Year: 1879

low-townsmen, counted himself only
three days earlier their autocrat, claim
ing by birth, wealth, and naughty self
assertion the place yielded to him in vir-
tue of these qualities, as that of Martin
Merlvale was thrust upon him in rec
ognition of his own personal charac-
ter.


And why this terrible insult why
this stern intimation that the men of
Pilgrim Vale considered the presence of
one so lately their magnate so great a
pollution that they preferred even to
lose the privilege of public worship to
suffering him to join them in it?


Whyp o men of 1876, yours is not
the temper of your fathers but yet you
must thrill with admiration of their
earnestness of purpose, their mighty
trust, their contempt of their own ad-
vantage, or safety, or comfort, when a
Right full of danger and suffering called
upon them to oppose tyrannous and
encroaching Wrong


1t was IVA, and the Governor of Mas
sachusetts, in right of his commission
from King George of England, had sent
to demand the payment of tax levied
upon the support of the foreign soldiers,
sent over with the avowed purpose of
holding the mutinous province in sub
lection. Pilgrim Vale considered this
demand of the man George" argued
upon it, prayed over it, and finally de-
clined to accede to it, but in so mild
and temperate manner that the Gov
ernor considered their refusal only a
formal protest, and proceeded to enforce
his demand by appointing certain col
lectors of the revenue through the col
ony, and for the town of Pilgrim Vale
commissioning Major Reginald Catheart
to this odious Office.


When the news come down to Pill
grim Vale, its men smiled after the slow
and solemn fashion of their kind, and
said:


" The Governor does not know the
mind of Pilgrim Vale even yet, it
seems"


ouO thO hOAb uoy iuniOi ptINhucu
the town-a rumor of dismay and in
credulity, yet deepening hour by hour
to certainty. Yes, Major Catheart had
accepted the commission and announced
his intention of carrying out its instruc-
tions. This was on the Saturday, and
we have seen the result upon the Sum
day.


AS the door closed Parson Holbrook
rose and played long and earnestly for
the welfare of his native land, and the
safety of those whose fathers had been
led to those shores, even as the children
of Israel were led out of Egypt to find
safety and freedom in the land their
Lord had promised them, and he closed
with petition for protection against all
enemies, both without and within-the
foreign foe and those of their own house
hold who had turned against them and
whose evil counsels might, he prayed,
be turned to foolishness and dishonor.


Then came the sermon; and, laying
aside his carefully written discourse
upon the Urim and Thummim, Parson
Holbrook preached extemporaneously
and nightly from the text, 60 Put not
your faith in princes" diverging finally
into the story of Judas, and the high
crime of domestic or social treachery.


When all was over, and the choir had
sung, "See where the hoary sinner
stands" black Pompey threw open the
doors, and stood aside, as usual, to meet
and return the kindly greetings Of the
congregation; but as Major Catheart
strode down the aisle, his head erect, but
his face white and withered, as If be had
just arisen from bed of torture, even
Pompey turned his back and stood star
ing intently out of the open door as the
stricken man passed by. But Major
Catheart looked neither to the right nor
the left and If Others besides Pompey
had intended to show their disapproval
of his presence, they found no opportu-
nifty, for the kings collector passed
quickly through the little throng out
side the door, and down the main street
until he reached the grave, handsome,
middle-aged house SO strongly resem-
bling its master, and quietly opening
the front-door, passed directly up stairs,
and was Fastening to the shelter Of
room at the back, known as " the ma
jor's study" when the open door OF one
Of the principal bedrooms came gentle
yet eager call, Reginald do come in
here" ff a4a


The husband paused reluctantly. and