Year: 1867

Z
ton ot a small farm l.st was FOR sale,
He bought Il. and tearing down the
cid farmhouse, built commodious aud
pleasant mansion. whore be iiscd IN
solitary state, WITH no one bat his
hoaaoleepcr and oneFaan servant rare
~ going into public except to church.


He was not generally liked; the men
folks laughed al his amature farming
and their wives we're e1t little indig-
nant at his want d appreciation of The
hospitality for which they we're noted
As for the young ladies Of Greonville,
they were unanimously Of tho opinion
chat be was very handsome" with the
exception Of Kate Wilde, who declared
he was horrible looking creature, with
bis fierce whiskers and staring black
eyes


Squire Graves was by.no means mis-
anthropical in his natural disposition;
on the contrary, he had heart more
than usually sympathetic and generous
in his impulses. HE seclusion and the
chilling reserve Of his manner we're
owing to recent family affection, which
though it attached neither disgrace nor
blame to him, had cast a temporary
gloom over bis feelings, and made him
shrink from society. He had settled
himself down to the dull routine of his
present life with the fixed determina-
ton Of never leaving it; bnt alas for the
vanity of human resolutions, especially
those who repress the natural craving
of the heart for love and sympathy, he
was already growing weary of it. And,
as near the close OF the day-the warm
July day above mentioned-he sat up
on the verander smoking, an unusually
lonely feeling came over him, and the
silence around seemed almost oppress-
sive.


What bewitching countenance that
girl has, " he sohquized. "Kate Wilde,
believe they call her I think | never
heard such sweet laugh"


Squire Graves had seen Kate st
church every Sunday since bis arrival,
and had been irresishbly attracted to-
ward her; and that very morning as be
CHANGED to 60 by her fathers house, he
had caught glimpse of her bright eyes
and rosy checks in the garden into
which he had been tempted to LOOK 10y
the merry tone and gleeful laugh which
proceeded from it.


Then sas he drssssily watched the
smoke circling above his head, he fell tc
pondering how such face and figure
would look opposite him every morning
at the breakfast table, and what a gen
eral transformation that would effect il
his lonely home. From which blissful
dream he aroused himself with hall
at the celibacy to which he had pledget
himself


Them pesky boys are in the meddel
again, Squire, said his man, Joe, thrus
/ ing his head thro' the door. That er,
grass will be SO tangled up that it can
be moved no how you can fix it.


The boys Of the neighborhood ha'
been very annoying Of late in their de
predations upon his orchard and gar
garden, in which he took no little prid
and the announcement OF this fresh raid
quite exhausted his remaining stock 0
patience.


They are? p he exclaimed, I've trie'
what virtue there is in words; now II
try the effect Of something more po
tent. Go and unchain Bruno.
| With the huge mastiff at his heals
which, fierce as it was, was perfect
under his masters control SOUR
Graves reached the brow OF hill whic
I gave him a view of the fair raiders. i
stopping position little could be dis
cerned Of them above the tall grass say
their heads, whose strange gear certain
ly gave them q very masculine appear
ance.


1 In spite Of his Indignation, desirou
Of frightening rather than hurting then
Squire Graves held back the eager do
; until he had, by loud halloo, warne'
them Of his design.


As soon as the girls saw the fierce ar
imal, with open mouth, bearing dow
upon them, they let fall their pals an


baskets, and made for the nearest en-
closure, over which they tuInbled in


manner distinguished less by grace tina
expedition giving vent in the mean
time to a series Of piercing screams, sue
as can proceed only from female lung
and those in state OF unusual healt
and vigor.


Al got safely over with the exeepto