Year: 1874

Farmer Fernwell and his wifi were becom- ing very gray. People were sorry for them, and they pitied the Elder. who continued to make shoes. Elder Hetchel was more sad and sober, and much less fearful and stswashy.' than in former times. The boys said that the Elder was becoming ''more elderly every day. In all this time they heard nothing from the Daisy. Summers and winters came and went, and 1t was now summer again i; It was a very warm July evening, just like that when, seven years before, the Elder with his Canadian charger had play ed his little farce of the returning prodi- gal. The sharp yip-yip, and at intervals the brassy whirring jar, of nighthawk high up in the dark air, out over the mea- dow, broke the stiffness of the hour. The trio thatnow sat at the farm house door enjoying the descending coolness and fragrance of the summer night had taken deeply to heart life's lessons of sorrow, and they were patient and forgiving to- wards each other Little Ruthie was tucked away, fast asleep. It was quite all through the house, except the ticking of the clock and the chirp of cricket.

 ''I think it was wrong for me to marry her though; arter all," said the Elder, with sigh.

 ''No, it was not all your fault, Elder, you must not say that and I think she loved you" said Mrs. Fernwell, kindly

 It was familiar theme with the trio.

 ''There comes lame Libby" said Farm CT Fernwell, peering out toward the road.

 The latch of the door-yard gate clicked, and the form of woman, Emping and unsteady, with a little bundle in her hand, was dimly seen coming to the door ] fhAo h c1,oI Ilo1f from the gate to the door she hesitated, stopped and stood crying, and then sank down.

 70 my God, it is Lida Annr' said Mrs, Fernwall.

 It was true. For three bitter years, the poor, deserted, crushed, but proud Daisy had fought the fearful battle which an ignorant, lone girlish little woman has to fight to hold on even to Efe in the wilderness of a great city. Here she was at last, footsore, sick, emaciated, asham- ed, crying, and almost swooning before her own fathers door. Her weak battle in a great town had brought her to this.

 In a moment the trio got to her. Farm CT Fernwell gathered her mp in his arms and sobbed, Poor child, poor child!" as he carried her tenderly into the house. For long time she had no word to say, but clung to her fathers neck and hid her face upon his shoulder while she wept. The Elder stood sympathizing and trembling near by. A few henest tears tricked down his face, without his seem- ing to be aware of it. Mrs. Fernwell, after clinging for while to her husband and her child as they were together, found herself weak and tottering She had some difficulty in getting the lamps light l oH md xfha, oha ho1 la1 nd ed glimpse of Lida Ann's face, all shrunken and pinched and scanned with sickness and the scars of life's stern war face, she, for the first time in her quiet career. tainted.

 | Llda Ann's return was an important item of news in the little neighborhood. The comments of the men revealed, for the most part, manly generosity ill iudg- ing of her conduct. The women declared that they would say nothing against Lida Ann but they were somehow particular ly struck with "the noble conduct of the Elder in taking her back so readily" He was really bespattered with feminine 1 praises, and came as near to being gener- ally popular as is possible to a sentiment al mountebank recently reformed A half-dozen or more little incidents, show ing the romance and sentiment of his de- votlon to Lida Ann, were detailed with exquisite relish. He was very much surp- rised one morning, about fortnight after Lida Ann's return, at finding in his room upon table long white cylindri- cal object. which proved to be q cane wrapped in white paper. It had real gold knob for head, and on 1t was engraved. ''To the Rev. Walter Hetchel" A little card attached to it by scarlet ribbon in- formed the Elder that the ladies had pre- sented it.

 The Elder did evince disposition ''to slop over'' that morning at breakfast when discussing the cane, and began premoni- tory snuft1e. after the manner of his preach ing days but hint from the deacon cor rected him, and he restained himself.

 The Elders second courtship was not very protracted. A little Chicago ar rangment was speedily effected, and Mrs. Skitchpin, who had heard nothing from her spiritualistic and slightly rickety hus- band for about three years. was again, legally, an unmarried woman. A sabbath day about five weeks after her return was fixed upon as the time for the wedding The people felt that they all had a right to take an interest in romance that had now become so public, and the wedding was to be at the brick church.

 It was a golden day, the first of Sep tember; the earth was rich with fruitage, the pulses of the air at rest At ten o'clock i'll the morning the little wedding party left the house, and started on foot for the church. The Elder, with glossy 1 black coat and white waistcoat, a new beaver and his presentation cane, was a very presentable bridegroom The little woman beside him in a muslin dress was hollow-cheeked and hollow-eyed Little Ruthie, after childish protest of more than week, had learned to call the little woman mamma" and now clung lovingly to her hand, and prattled and trotted along at her side.

 Farmer Fernwell and his wife came close on behind. The group of five trod the little dusty highway so familiar to their feet. In the bright sunshine through the crystal air, as they walked to church, they saw with familiar eyes to the north ward the declivity of the mountains,-a vast descending wooded plain, stretching downward to the great St. Lawrence Val ley, and still beyond dim horizon van lshlng away at measureless distance into the sky. Lida Ann, having seen this from a child, had never noticed 1t before; but now its surpassing grandeur amazed and thrilled her.

 At the church there was first the usual sabbath sermon, by the pastor, and then the marriage ceremony.

 Lida Ann had been secluded since her return. Few of the people had seen her. After the formal words were said, and the Elder and Lida Ann were made ane wife again, and the pastor had dismissed the congregations, the kind, simple-hearted women gathered around to welcome and kiss the bride; some of ''the boys too fingered to speak good word to the Daisy. There were many tears. They could hardly recognize at first ''little Lida" in thes stern eyes and pallid face that would not finch nor quiver. But human hearts are wondrous kind in rus- tic bosoms. The mothers in Israel saw how it was. Good Mother Marshton took the little bride right into her kind arms. whether the Daisy would permit it or not,