Year: 1878

i'll the invalid chair. The lad, Tom, earned what he could working here and there for the neighboring farmers, and Gilly always, had her hands full of fine needle work from Squire Forestwaite's-werkth that no one else cofld be trusted to do, for the blush Rose had always received dainty handling, and her father pre- ferred that her delicate garments should be wrought by loving as well as sEilifui fingers.

 Roses letters to her friend were always fl- led with fine bits of character painting, ,descrip

 tive of the people whom she met, and the stay -at-home girl looked at the great, interest ing world beyond her reach, through the blue eyes of the blush Rose. Gilly was too busy to brood over the situations of the different spheres occupied by herself and her friend. She was in a too healthy state of mind and body for that It never occurred to her to sit down in the winters twilight, and look at the rising moon, and harbor vain and bitter thought while contrasting Roses life with her own. There was the bread to put to rise for the nor rows baking, and then her books awaited and invited her. Evening after evening she knit and studied, embroidered and studied, her delft fingers enly stopping long enough to turn the fascinating pages.

 Rose was anxious that Giliy should be pres ent at the exercises that were to be held in the old stose church opposite Madam Lassalle s.

 when she graduated, but David's rheumatism came on with renewed violence, and the little project had to be given up. Rose did not re- turn home at once when her school days were ended, but she accompanied her stepmother and father on journey to attend his class meeting at the commencement of ---- col lege. t >U 4 st 4eH9 s.-fi

 Roses frequent and lengthy letters to Gilly contained oft recurring and ominous allusions to certain Prof Blauvelt who seemed to be the most favored among the new acquaintances she had made in the gay college town which was also charming summer resort. Com mencement week stretched along into month and then there was party made up to visit the lakes and the mountains; and when, at last, Squire Forestwaite and his family turn- ed their faces homeward, and Pref. Blauvelt accompanied them.

 Rose skipped down the hill, even before she had removed her jaunty travelling suit, to em- brace and kiss her friend, and to tell her that Prof Blauvelt and she, had been engaged just 24 hours! Poor Gilly, with all her common sense and non-selfishness, would have been just bit jealous in the premises, but she had conceived such deep admiration for the gen. tlemen from Roses letters and from reading certain very learned book he had just written that she had, days before Roses arrival, writ ten him down as worthy even Of her darling, and kissed her and cried over her without one selfish pang. ..-.....-..-.

 The engagement was not long one, but be- fore it was cosummated the.insidious distemper found it's way to poor Davidf heart. His pa tient, attentive daughter coming into the SICK room one day with her white apron full of flowers for him to arrange in vase of fresh water, as he was fond of doing, found that in her ten minutes absence, her accomplishing, long suffering father had entered that land where the flowers never fade and the waters are from the fountain of eternal life. .a.7dn

 "What will you do now. dear?"

 It was the evening after the funeral, and Rose still fingered in the little vine wreathed cottage where Gilly- and Tom were left alone. She drew her friend down into the deep chintz covered armchair, which had so often held them both from childhood, and repeated her question. - r+EE -'@H

 'I hardly know yet, Rosie. To stay here seems the easiest way, but now that our blush Rose is to be transplanted from the parent stem doubt my ability to get sewing enough to support both Tom and me-for he, poor boy, must go to school. know so little of methods that should not dare attempt teach .ipG, even were able tO. pass examination. Ny acquisitions are the simple ana purely feminine ones of housekeeping, needlework and nursing am anxious to get on, howev- CT, and it is my belief that with a vigorous hand, willing heart and spirit of independ- enke reasonably desired results are obtained" 7" II have plan, my blessom," said Rose, drawing her arm around the neck her friend. Don't change color, although tits perfectly al lowable, to be sure, in gilllflower. Pm not going to propose anything that will In the least infringe upon your jealously guarded in dependence. Now, Gilly, would consider it a great favor if you would accept a salary, just like anybody else, to act as my prime minister in my new home at Henrystown for one year, at least. To come to the point sqparely and at once Papa says that, having brought me up with too few ideas in practi- tical direction, he considers it his bonndep duty to procure the services of some efficient person to keep house for me for one year and teach me the thousand things I ought to know. Now if I must learn housekeeping, I want you for a teacher, because consider that you are just perfect in that respect as well as in every other"

 ? Everything was satisfactorily arranged at once, and, when Prof. Blauvelt, who well knew the history of both the aower-named maidens, next came to the Forestwaite house, he proposed that Tom should accompany his sister to Henrystown, attend Dr. Millss excel lent boys school, and, at the same time, make himself useful about the house, yard and gar den, performing such duties as would natural ly fall to the lot of strong, active, well-dis- posed lad in his own home in any well-regulat- ed New England family.

 ''This is the last drop in my brimming cup of content" said Gilly And, indeed, the fact that her everyday life was still to plod on be- side the ideal one of Roses afforded greater degree of happiness than she had thought of praying for even.

 lou shall stay here withus and attend the wedding, then you and Tom can take charge of my luggage to Henrystown; and when we return from our wedding tour you will have our new home all ready for us." That was the blush Roses feasible as, we'll as charming plan, and it was carried out to the letter. s-.s 2. Never bride found brighter home than did this one when the door of the grand old Blau- welt residence was opened for her by Gillv, smiling loving welcome through the strange sedateness which her new mourning gave to her fair, fresh face. She it was who had grown dignifed and matronly, and who felt the re- sponsibility of the establishment weighing upon her. Never had blush rose more dainty handling. She was like kitten frolieking in the sunshine. She was always going to assume some of the responsibilities of her household to- morrow she was going to take the keys, count the linen, or learn to do this or that, but she never did. There were the claims of her hus- band, the claims of society, and then the claims of one baby, and then of two and then of three. What wonder that she gave no heed to the operations of the household machinery which moved noiselessly, accomplishing the most perfect work in every department There were servants under GiAy's direction, of course, but it was she who attended to all the details, from the arranging of the rooms, the preparing of dainty desserts to the professors buttons and linen, madame's silks and baby's fannels and lace. Rose would have made constant conlpanlnn of her, would nave tnIro- duced every where as her friend, but Gilly kept herself sedueusly in the back ground.

 She and Tom were very happy in their new home and both were making steady, mental progress; Tom at his lessons, and she culling here and there from the professors library and attending lectures on all sorts of subjects with her boy brother as an escort. She had oppor- tunities for substantial improvement now, and she made the most of them There were many evenings, too, when she sat in the library with a bit of embroidery in her fair hands and lis tened to music and to conversation which was a feast to her soul. Always quiet with the manners and carriage of a perfect gentlewo- man, and always dressed in plain black, every one looked upon her as matrOnly little body