Year: 1874

touch, sprinkling kisses on grass and
dandelions, while round downy clouds
sailed through the wonderfully blue sky
Edwin did not feel bit like business
that morning, which was strange, as
business was generally the breath Of
his nostrils., lie thought in a vague
way that he would like to wander
through the woods with Rachel and
hear the birds sing. So across the
mill field he strobe beside hedge he
himself had planted. AT the end
were few young plum trees, all COW
cred with white flowers, as if waiting
for the bridegroom. a bench stood
in that spot, but it was partly hidden
from view. Edwin paused in his
walk he thought he heard q tow sob
on the other side of the hedge. 1t
was Rachel, under a large brown
garden hat, as miserable and detected
as broken winged bird. She was
crying, but it did not redden her nose,
or blotch her checks. Tears only ad-
ded to the exquisite softness OF her
face. She was like pale flower dip
ped in dew


Edwin gave gasp-big, strong fel-
low that.hc was. 'I'm so sorry you
are unhappy he stammered, appear
ing before her, and not knowing what
he was saying.


II am very unfortunate sobbed
Rachel, with the look of a lost child
utterly unable to cope with its troub-
les, which went directly to Edwin S
heart. / shall never, never prosper ;
why I cannot tell As soon as / find
a home where people are kind, some
thing is sure to happen which brings
down distrust and suspicion on my
head. 1 have been lonely and sad a
great deal of my life, and lonely and
sad must ever be !"


"Dont say that )" and there was a
tremor in the manly voice. "But tell
me, did this thing ever happen to you
before, Rachel 2"


yes she answered, in faint, heart
sick way. You ought to know the
whole story. Two years ago father
died. Before that we had wandered
about great deal, and / was very
weary. My little brother, you know
I told you, died too; and after he
went I grew spiritless and dull, and
could eat nothing, land could only sit
listless all day with my hands folded
and think l should have let myself
sit quietly to death. Bat there were
friends who helped and encouraged
me- Father was a sort of artist, and
he had taught me to draw in water
colors. They got me this work, by
which l have supported myself evel
since, and it interested me and woke
me up in life again. l was happy
until year ago, l had a low fever
and after that mysterious things hap
pened. Strange stories were whisper
ed about. Nearly all my clothes dis
appeared. 1t was limited that I was
playing tricks, and whispers hurt me
very cruelty. I could not bear to stay
there any longer, so I came away


sAnd did you never suspect any ono
trying to injure you?'


'Oh no, said she, wonderingly, look
ing up through her tears. Whc
could harm a lonely girl like me ? II
seemed as though I could explain ii
all if 1 could only remember what had
happened sometime somewhere.
had confused recollections of a dream
that came to me night after night, anc
my little brother was always with me
My heart was unspeakably heavy
1 often woke up crying, but it was al
like a mist l could not grasp it
though l tried. Do you suppose peo
pie ever live two lives, one which they
remember, while the other is all ;
blank 2


q don't know what you mean, sale
Edwin, as he took seat beside her OF
| the bench.


Aud 1 don't know myself. Oh how
l wish 1 did !! l am pursued by crue
fate which | cannot understand.
must get away from here, for in tim'
you will all turn against me-and
have been so happy l would rathel
die than have you think any harm.
She could not finish the sentence.


Don't cry so, said Edwin, slipping
his arm around her waist in an almos
unconscious attempt to give comfort
You ought to know, Rachel, / coul'
never think evil of YOU. This buSines