Year: 1879

Just then, looking up, saw in mirror
opposite, the reflection Of our little group
-and--John Grant. When saw the con-
trast between Mary Heating and myself, l
forgave him, If l had not before. Not that
| was so very plain-I do not think was
| but she was SO beautiful, 50 contidiug
and loving, no one could help being
charmed with her; and could not blame
him, for he had always been great admi-
rer of the beautiful.


Mary Heating came to see ne frequently
while she staid at his sisters, sometimes,
not often, accompanied by John. 1t was
an autumn afternoon, full of clouds and
sunshine, when she came to make her fare
well call. He was with her watching her
every momen with loving pride; and yet it
seemed to me that he regarded her some
what rs beautiful plaything, winding her
yellow curls around his fingers, and calling
her pet names. We went out into the
garden to gather some flowers; and as she
ran about, laughing and talking, picking
flowers, and wreating them in her hair, she
seemed lovely and bcwitchng child
John had gradually lost his constrained
and embarrassed manner when with me,
and, excepting that we never approached
| personalities in our conversation, Our inter
course was getting to be something as it
once was.


Our tastes IN many things were similar.
We had read and admired the same ALL
thors, and upon most of the important sub
jccts connected with human life, our
thoughts were alike We were speaking
of some work we had lately read, and were
quite interested in discussing its merits,
when Mary suddenly checked her happy
play, and with grave face, walked silent
ly for a few moments at Johns side At
last She said "You never talk in that way
to ne, John, but its because don't know
enough" "You know enough for me,
dear, .hc answered; but she went on, 81
shall be but child wife. Caroline would
suit you much better" "Allowing you to
be judge" l said laughingly, for I saw
John could not answer readily. We said
no more on that subject, but I think John
asked himself more than once that day, "Is
Mary right2'


When Mary bade me 'good-bye," that
| afternoon, she wound her white arm around
my neck and kissed HE, saying in her gen
| tie voice, "Write to me often, Caroline,
and teach me to be worthy of him." And
she went out Of the gate, through the hop
garden, leaning on his arm, the warm All
tllmn sunlight falling Oh her golden hair,
making her very beautiful.


Soon after this John Grant left Elmwood
and took farm on his own account in the
west of the State, adjoining that of old MIR.
keating. seldom heard and never men
| toned his name then. Mary wrote
frequently to me during the winter; her
letters were like herself, graceful and
charming, full of love aud confidence. She
spoke much of John-''IIow proud she was
| of him, what letters he wrote, SO much bet
| ter than hers, and wasn't it strange he
should love such child as she was |" She
| went Oh writing in this way for several
months; but at length there was change
| i'll her manner of speaking of John; it
! seemed as though she were not quite as
happy as she had been; she said she began
| to be discouraged about ever knowing any
| more, and limited thHt John wcs getting dis
| satisfied with hcr--generally ending her
| letters with some anccdotc abo, her favor
| itc cat or canary. 1t was not long after
this, when she began to speak of her cousin
"Harry Smith ~ who was so agreeable, and
yet didn't know bit more than she did
A month or two after this, I was not much
| surprised when she wrote that her engage
ment with John Grant was broken by mu-
tual consent-''Thcy were not at all suited
to each other, and no doubt would both be
happier" she said; for he knew so much
and she so little. She concluded with a
long account of her new black kitten Top
| sy, which seemed then to be the one Oh
| ject which engrossed all her attention.
Two years passed, and l seldom heard
John Grants name mentioned, and if I
thought OF him at all, believed had con-
qucrcd my old attachment-my life flowed
on quietly and serenely. One year ago
how well l remember the day was sit
ting quietly reading in the fading light of
an October sky, when hearing a rustlng
among the leaves, that lay thick upon the
Grant approaching the house.
When he last was there, she was with
| him, but he was alone now, and my hearts
quick throbbing told me his errand.
Was weak and wanting in sef-respcct
when, after he had told me all--told me
that although he was fascinated with a
beautiful and loving child, deep down in
his heart had always lain love for me.
All my love came back to me, and with
more confidence that could have felt four
years before l laid my hands in his, and
said, "John Grant, will be yours!"


John has sold his farm at Ferny Coombes,
| and our new home Is near Ashford, as the
old house at Elm Wood was taken down
to make room for the railway. We neither
of us expect to pass over our path Of lite
without meeting with occasional storms
but we place our trust in One who is both
willing and able to assist those to remove
them who put their hand chcerfully to the
work; and with us it will be both work
of trust and love.


y


| Silk Raising In the United States.