Year: 1874




appropriate term" F." suggested Frank
tormentingly.


" He certainly cannot expect us TO re
ceive him any langer as guest" Ara
bella went on, ignoring the amendment.


"We might possibly receive him as
one Of the family, though" said Frank,
turning to the window to hide her blush
es.


A dim perception of the truth began
to dawn on Arabella.


1t is not possible that he has had the
assurance to ask you to marry him?"
she said, freezingly.


Why not? He loves me and / love
him" said Frank, hravely


This was little too much. No words
could adequately express our consterna-
tion, and we all three sat and gazed at
her in silence.


=" 1t is just too bad " sighed Grace,
at last, with tears in her eyes, Its GO
ing to spoil all our nice times.


" 1t is very unpleasant mistake from
beginning to end, said Arabella, with
an effort to compose herself; but it
proves conclusively that Ralph Strong,
whatever else he may be, is no genHe-
man."


"You are wrong then cried Frank,
with flashing eyes; and then, like the
true woman she is, she bravely took up
the absent ones defense.


1t seems that the nephew, Ralph Hill,
whom the farmer went to call on that
memorable evening, was absent at the
time. So Ralph Strong was sent in his
place. Accepting our cordial invitation
to visit US, without the least suspicion
that we were taking him for other than
he was, he had come and gone week af-
ter week, in blissful ignorance, until one
evening, while confding to Frank some
bits OF personal history, he chanced to
discover the mistake we we're making,
and was eager at once to explain but
Frank, partly from a love OF mischief
and partly for fear the explanation
would put an end to his coming, begged
hi to keep quiet for awhile. so the
fault is all mine," she said, "and now
you may call him what you like-farm-
er Hills nephew or farmer Hills hired
man-to me he is and has been from the
first, simply Ralph Strong, the truest
and best man have ever known


And all Arabella's arguments failed
to convince her that ploughing and reap
ing for Farmer Hill had in any way
iessened his manhood, or that in marry
ing farmer she would be booming her.
self to life of daily drudgery. So
there was nothing more to be said. She
was of age, and had perfect right TO
do as she pleased but it seemed SO odd
that Frank, who had refused more offers
than she could well Der, was, after
all, go ng to marry Farmer Hills hired
man.


1t came to light little later that he
was the owner of a handsome farm, and
had hired himself to Farmer Hill chiefly
for the purpose of learning how to man.
age it, having discovered, on leaving
college, that he knew far more Of as
tronomy than agriculture; but even this
modifying fact could not restore Ara
bella's composure.


Father and mother came home in the
fall, and we all went back to and
at Christmas there was wedding. Ar
abella declared that it was disgrace to
the family; but father, who is quick al
reading men, said Ralph Strong was
worthy of any woman, and that Frank
had shown her good sense.


They have been married three years
now, and Grace and l go every summer
to visit them. Their home is little
Eden and Frank is as happy as queen.
To be sure, she has some care, as every
wife and mother must have but | cant
see as she is one bit more of drudge
than any city woman; and, as for her
husband, he grows nobler and better
every day, as every true man must who
has true wife to help him.





Arabella has not yet been to see them
but | don't think her injured dignity can
hold out much longer; for Frank, with
the sweet forgiveness of her nature, has
named her baby for her, and a daintier
baby Bell was never seen. They are
going to bring her to town pretty soon,
and Grace and feel sure that she will
prove little peacemaker.


Speaking of Arabella reminds me
that last summer, we met Farmer Hills |
nephew himself-the other Ralph. They |
say he is rich; but, poor fellow, be is
greatly to be pitied, for he not only has
weak narves," but weak head as we'll;
and even Arabella-worldly minded as
she is-could she once see him, would be
ouita w;llinor IN apk knouIadrra that Eropb |