Year: 1874

Every word she uttered came from the
inmost recesses of her heart, and as she
advanced she grew more absorbed in
her subject, and her audience more in
terested, until she finally closed her lee
ture with q burst Of such passionate elo-
quenee as few women have ever uttered.


Herman Powers was thoroughly
humbled, and he went home that night
converted man. Although he knew
the hotel at which Nina was registered,
and much as he longed to see aud con-
gratulate her on her success, he allowed
her to leave town without giving her a
call. He determined to try himself to
see If his conversion was absolutely
real. .-.--


And then he began wondering If she
had outiived her love for him; if, when
she knew that the last one Of his bitter
prejudices had been removed by her,
would she be willing to take back that
little word she had said to him that
night But, he thought, how useless
to think of such a thingI No doubt
that long ere this he had been sup
planted in her affections by some other
man far worthier of her than himself.


The spring months had passed, and
the increasing temperature made the
denizens of the scorching cities begin to
think of various cool retreats in the
country. As for our friend Herman,
We, who know his hearts secret, can
easily guess to what quiet little town
his thoughts turned oftenest.


At last his great desire to see Nina
and know for himself if she was happy,
overcame every other thought, and he
began making preparations to be absent
from the city two or three weeks. The
morning after his arrangements were
completed, he took the cars for and at
nigh tfound himself ut the Weston de-
pot.


The first thing with him was to visit
his old hotel, secure lodgings for an in
definite time, and order his dinner. The
Landlord had not forgotten his gentle
manly patron, and our hero was warmly
welcomed. In short time an excellent
dinner was set before him, to which he
did ample justice.


After dinner he strolled through the
town, without, however, encountering
any of his last years acquaintances.
This was just as he wished, for he was
in no mood for talking. In his walk he
noticed that the past year had brought
several changes to the town. One OF
the most important ones was a new
brick edifice that had been erected in
the place Of the old wooden store where
Mr. Ray used to keep his stock of gro
ceries and provisions. After rambling
around until he was thoroughly tired,
he returned TO the hotel to enjoy the
soundest nights sleep he had expert
enced for some time.


True to the custom he followed when
he was here before, Herman arose at
six o'clock and prepared himself for 4
walk. In few minutes he was occupy
ing his favorite position on the little
bridge. He had not been there many
minutes when he was aroused from the
reverie into which he had fallen by the
noise of an express wagon that came
rattling down the steet, and paused in
front of the new brick building of Mr..
Rays. 1t was driven by lady, and at
the sight of the familiar figure, Her
mans heart commenced such thump-
ing that it almost choked him. 1t was
no other than that of our heroine. As
soon as she had stopped young man
came out, stranger to Herman, though
evidently an employe of Mr.. Rays.
He took butter firkin from the wagon
and carried into the building, and soon
returned with it empty. Miss Nunly
then turned her horses heads homeward
and sped away rapidly.


Herman watched her until she was
out of sight, and then, so strong is the
force Of habit, that almost before he was
aware of it, he was entering the estab-
lishment of his old friend. He asked
the man in attendance If Mr.. Ray was
in, and was answered that he was not.
He then asked Mt what time he might
hope to see him at the store, and was
told that of late Mr. Ray did not come
down until about nine o'clock.


Powers went back TO his hotel and
breakfasted, and at half-past nine again
sought Mr.. Ray at his place. The old
man could scarcely find words to express
his joyful surprise at again seeing Mr..
Powers, for Herman was prime favor
ite with him. Mr.. Ray gave him all
the village news in an incredibly short
short space of time. Suddenly he began
rallying him on his reasons for coming
back 10 Weston.


"GIad as / am" he said, "that our
town has sufficient attractions to bring
you back again, can't understand how
it can be. OF course a certain young
lady in the neighborhood has nothing
to do with it. By the way, she has
taken a rise in the world since you were
here. OF course you know all about her
lecturing and all that, but you may not
know that her father has made her a
present of fifty cows, and she now car
ries on, with the aid of two or three
hired assistants, quite an extensive dali
rying business. If you were up early
enough this morning, you no doubt saw
her come in with her usual amount Of
butter; for she still insists on doing her
own marketing"


- - " sa;I uarn,an HT