Year: 1874

as she appeared that evening at Mr..
Rays party?


She was little above medium height.
with finely rounded form. Her large
black eyes were shaded by long, droop-
ing, dark lashes; and her luxuriant hair
was also black and glossy as silk.
The rich glow on her cheek was as nat
ural as the color to the rose. A plain
white muslin dress fell about her in
soft, graceful folds, its plainness relieved
only by bows of cherry ribbon at the
throat and waist. have told you that
her hair was black; but 1 had almost
forgotten to tell you that it fell about
her shoulders in a natural way, that
made one fully realize the meaning of
these words, ga woman's glory is her
hair" She was fit model for an ar
tist; but few artists could have done her
justice, for she was wondrously beauti-
full.


So thought Herman Powers. 1t
was but a few weeks ago that he
had come to this quiet little town. He
was gay, jolly young man, with no
encnmbrances but a good business in
the city, which he was heartily tired of
looking after. He had come up here
for little rest, leaving the business in
the hands Of an efficient partner. In a
few days, however, he grew tired of the
quiet-for Weston was not notable for its
gayeties-and thought strongly ofchang-
ing his location. He awoke one
morning at six o'clock, and after
vainly trying for some time to sleep
again, said to himself: sI wonder
how a fellow would feel to get up this
time in the morning.? I'm half mind
to try it," and in few minutes he was
up and dressed.


The morning being lovely, he started
out for walk, going in direction he had
never been. He had but just got be-
yond the limits of the town when he
observed a young lady advancing to-
wards him.
"What in the world" thought he, |
''can n nicely dressed young lady be
coming to town so early in the morning /
for, and why is she carrying that huge
basket? Perhaps she is going to do the
family marketing. But the basket
seems heavily loaded, if / can judge by
the way she carries it. Heavensw he
inwardly CALCULATED, as he came oppo-
site her. "what splendid-looking erea-
ture, and I wonder who she is" AS
there was no one to give him the infor-
nation, he continued onward in his .
walk. But he had no eyes for the /
beautiful morning and the lovely seem /
cry on every hand. Herman Powers
thoughts were all with the young lady /
lie had just met, and they were still of
her when he returned to his hotel.
His walk had not sharpened his appe-
tite.


The next next morning found him up
at the same early hour, and out for
another walk in the same direction.
do not think he would have acknowl-
edged that he hoped to meet the fair
unknown; but as he neared the place of
their former meeting, his heart gave
quick bound as he saw the identical
young lady he had met the morning be-
fore, approaching him with the same
basket on her arm. Now, when / tell
you what he did, I suppose you will
think be was love-stricken. But this
was not the case, although he did think
she was the most beautiful woman he
had ever seen. After they had passed
each other, he walked on a few yards
and then stopped and looked back. The
girl was hurrying on towards the town,
and would not see him if he followed
her. He was a curious man in his way,
and his curiosity must be satisfied.
Slowly he walked back TO town, keep
ing some distance behind, but still in
view, of the fair girl carrying the bas-
ket. She suddenly turned and went into
q grocery store. Herman walked on
down on the opposite side of the street
and paused on the bridge spanning the
little creek that wound its way through
the town of Weston. He did not take
his eyes off of the door of the grocery
store until he saw the young lady come
out, with her basket evidently consid-
erably lightened of its load. When she
was far enough away, Herman boldly
walked up to the store and went in.
The grocer bade him good-morning and
asked his orders. Mr.. Powers thanked
him that he wished for nothing, and
told him that he was around learning
the ways of the people, as he was a
stranger in town. Seeing the grocer
busy putting away some rolls of butter,
and wishing to be friendly in order to
get the information he desired, he re-
marked, "You have some nice butter
there.n


"Yes. Miss Nunly almost furnishes
the market with butter; and nice lot
she makes.n


"Miss Nunly? Is that the young
lady that has just left here ?n


"Yes, sir. She brings butter here
every morning"


The store-keeper was an old man who
was glad to have some one to talk 70 90
he went on:


"You see, sir, she's the incest girI
around here. Her father is we'll Off brt
she's too independent to be sunnor,od
by him, without any effort on her nort
She teased her father into getting mn
some Of his cows-for he can't rsf,aa
her anything, although he tried hard