Year: 1878

wentu that made the half score ofchil-
dren, myself included, half wild with
eager longing.


Ny mother could rot relish her re-
past with all those hungry eager eyes
upon her. And what wonder? Strange
that Hannah did not know enough to
order us away from her presence.


"Never mind me, Hannah. Make
broth enough for the children. I don't
care for it," she said, looking away,
through the little window, upon the
boat in the tidal river, and out beyond,
into the breathing ocean.


Ny father had way of complaining
which must have been very annoying
to my mother Every new addition to
the family only made it harder than
before to meet his financial needs, and
fear he lacked proper consideration
for my mothers sensitive feelings.


Certain it is that when morning came
and she lay dying with a dead baby,
with white, pinehed face, perfect min
ature Of her own, upon her shrunken
bosom, that her last words addressed to
my father were, Don't worry about US,
dearie; there'll be two less mouths to
feed"


The handsome stranger attended the
funeral, accompanied by Lord Bothwick
and suite. This was a mark Of respect
very seldom accorded TO a tenant on the
estate, and my father was duly grateful.
1 was sorely grieved at losing my
mother, but fear my grief was selfish,
for knew that heavier cares would de-
volve upon me now than before had
known.


Hannah's Jove for her original mis-
tress had not descended upon me, and
her iron rule could not now be checked
by any one save my father, who rigidly
adhered to Solomon's idea that to spare
the rod was to spoil the child.


My mother had scarcely been twenty
four hours in her grave before devel-
oped into an incorrigible rebel. shall
not excuse myself for this. There were
twinges Of conscience that smote me,
and I ought willingly to have accepted
my legacy Of duty with resignation, and
trust for the future, but was under the
infatuation Of a spell as sweet and alb
sorbing as it was strange and new, and
I was not wholly even my own inexperi-
enced SELF


The fascinating stranger had spoken
to me respectfully and tenderly at the
open grave Of my mother He had
bade me be Of good cheer, and fancied
there was a great deaFmore in his looks
and manner than his words implied.


81 would not bend to the accustomed
household tasks Of my past life," l said


Hannah complained of me to my
father, and was arraigned before him
at her instigation and mercilessly
whipped. If a child ever deserved a
whipping, / did, but l have learned to
doubt the wisdom of solomon. 1t was
not the sparing of the rod that spoilt
me, but the exact reverse.


Then planned to run away. To meet
the handsome stranger and become his
own beloved wife was now my pet am
bition. 1 went below the cottage to the
farther edge of the garden to pray.


80, Lord" 1 said, devoutly, "if 1t be
indeed thy will that 1 should marry the
lovely stranger, bring him across my
path to-day. Then shall know have a
sign from heaven, and shall see my duty
clearly. But If I am not to be bis wife,
may not again behold his face.n


With my head and heart full of this
infatuation, 1 turned around a hedge OF
broom, and approached the tidal river.
The sailbOat that my mother had gazed
upon during her last hour of conscious.
ness was anchored at the tiny dock; the
tide was in and had begun to ebb, and
with a sudden longing, born Of idle Curl
osity, I suppose, for had no idea as "a
whom the boat belonged, weht aboard
aud entered the little cabin. Supersti.
tion had met its climax. Before me
sat, in smiling inquiry, the object Of my
prayers.


"Indeed-sir-I-I-beg-pardon, but
really"


By this time was frightened, and
could proceed no further with my ex.
PLANTATION. Indeed it was no wonder
seeing 1 really had none to make. ]
sank upon a little divan, covering anC
yet exultant. Had not the high anC
I holy One who cannot err guided me
into the boat? And would I not be fly.
ing into the very teeth Of Providence &
I failed to heed the heavenly oppor
tunity?


''The Lord is on my side, and neve
will forsake the righteous" said my
cavalier, in exultant tones, which, ha,
I had better sense, might have known
to be sarcastic, or at least could hav'
OWNED that he was not in solemn ear
nest; but was an unsophisticated sim
pleton.


Again was filed with superstition
exaltation. In my delirium l did no
notice that an attendant had lOosed thu
little vessel from its moorings, and VI
were speeding out toward the sea.
my name is Gerald Grey; AM
r yours ?" he paused respectfully befor
me, and looked inquiringly into m!
eyes, that knew were sparkling will


Mary Ethel Graeme," answered


oiusning painfully, as saw him seal


my bare and not over tidy feet an,