Year: 1874

ana as Tor kerosene OH III hSioo w
keep the lamps IN order"


Lets gol" said l, with growing
zeal.


Lets gol echoed Oracle. And SO
overwhelming were the arguments We
brought to bear on Arabella that by the
time the discussion ended she had yield
ed her consent and before month went
by, we found ourselves actually at house
keeping in picturesque cottage not far
from Dexter station. As for the locali-
ty of Dexter, it will not be indicated on
the maps yet awhile, there being not
more than six houses in the place, all
told; but we liked it none the less. Of
course there we're Inconvenience espec-
tally for the first two days, when owing
to the non-arrival of our kitchen ware
and china, we we're somewhat puzzled to
know how to furnish forth our board,
but they only served to add zest to the
enterprise.


"Jolly, isn't it? +" said |, presiding as
gracefully as possible at a battered peach
can in place of a tea pot.


at is just fun, said Grace, using her
fingers for fork, as she helped herself
to sardines.


81 wish you could find some more
lady-like word, my dear" remarked Ara
bella, calmly slipping her tea from a
terra Gotta vase, and managing to main
tain her native dignity in spite of the
fact of being seated on an inverted wash
tub.


"Jolly doesn't half express it" said
Frank, taking lingering looks at the
landscape asshe buttered her bread with
a pen-knife cit is blessedness itself "
and when things we're fairly put to
rights" even Arabella was forced to
agree with her.


One day it was found necessary for
some of us to go to town to order house
hold supplies, and as Grace had head
ache and Frank was still too much in
love with the country to care for sight
of the city, Arabella and | decided to
take the morning express and make the
needed purchases. We had fully ex.
pected to be at home before evening, but
in one way way and another we we're de-
tanned until there was barely time to
catch the six o'clock train. 1t was only
au hours ride, however, and with de-
licious sense Of rest we shook off the
dust of the city and gave ourselves up
so thoroughly to the pleasant anticipa-
ton of soon being home, that we scarce
ly heard the stations called.


We must be near Dexter, said Ara
bella at last, rousing from stateof semi
unconsciousness, and picking up her
handbag. "Beg pardon, ma'am," said
voice behind US, but we have just
left Dexter"


1T can't be possible cried l, rush
ing frantically to the rear of the car,
and mentally wondering why In the
world we had not taken the opposite
side where we might have seen the name
even if we had failed to hear it called ;
but regrets were unavailing, for surely
enough there was Dexter receding in the
dim distance like dream of the past.


why, we shan't get home tonight !
We must stop the train ! We must co
something | calculated, turning to
Arabella, who, after properly thanking
our informant, had followed me at her
usual dignifed pace; but her undisturb-
ed air exasperated me, and without wait
ing for an answer, | hurried to the other
end of the car in search of the conduct
or.


There's no help for it, miss said
that polite official. "I'll put you off al
the next station, that's only three miles
on, and you can easily ind some one to
take you back"


Small consolation it was, but as the
last up-train had already passed us there
was no alternative; and presently we
we're standing forlorn and desolate ON
the platform of the Bedford station,
three miles from home, and the " shades
of night F" gathering about us with as
tonishing rapidity. Two unkempt boys,
with their hands in their pockets, stood
staring stupidity at u.s. "Dun know,
mum" said one of them, in answer to
our anxious inquiries, there amt no.
body round here as keeps HOSES 'cept
farmer Hill" and having pointed out
farmer Hills house. staggered away,
and left US to our own devices. A tire
some tramp across plowed field brought
us at last 70 the farmers door, and here
it was that we were told to walk in aud
make ourselves +" to hum till Ralph "
could come to our rescue. Five minutes
later the old man reappeared, tanning
himself vigorously with his broad brim.
med hat.


Here's Ralph Strong; he'll take you