Year: 1874

EuWlh gave gasp, hlg, strong fellow
that he was. II am so sorry you are un-
happy" he stammered. appearing before
her, and not knowing what he was say
ing.


II am very unfortunate" sobbed RAJ
chel, with the look Of a lost child. utterly
unable to cope with its troubles, which
went directly to Edwin's heart. II shall
never, never prosper; why. cannet tell.
As soon as find home where people are
kind. something is sure to happen which
brings down distrust and suspicion upon
my head. have been lonely and sad
great deal of my life. and lonely and sad
] must ever be-


Don't say that - and there was q tre-
NOR in the manly voice. "But tell me,
did this thing ever happen to you before,
Rachel ?"


Yes" she answered, in faint, heart
sick way. "You ought to know the whole
story Two years ago father died. Be
fore that we had wandered about a great
deal, and ] was very weary. My little
brother, you know / told you, died too;
and after he went ! grew spiritless and
dull, and could eat nothing, and could
only sit listlessly all day with my hands
folded; and think should have mourned
myself quietly to death. But there were
friends who helped and encouraged me.
Father was a sort of artist, and he had
taught me to draw in water. colors. They
got me this work. by which | have sup
ported myself ever since, and it interested
me and woke me up to life again. was
happy, until, a year ago had low fe-
yer, and after that mysterious things hap
pened.-Strange stories were whispered
about. Nearly all my clothes disappeared
| tnfa I
and that whisper hurt me very cruelty. |
could not bear to stay there any longer,
so came away"


And did You never suspect any one of
trying to iniure..you


''Oh no." said she wonderingly, looking
up through her tears. "Who would harm
Il lonely girl like me? | had con-
fused recollections OF dream that
came to me night after night and my lit
tie brother was always with me. My
heart was unspeakably heavy. l often
woke up crying, bnt it was all like mist;
could not grasp it, though tried. Do
YOU suppose people ever live two lives.
one which they remember, while the other
is all blank ~


II don't know what you mean," said
Edwin, us he took a seat beside her ON the
bench.


And don't know myself Oh, how
wish did? am pursued by cruel fate
which | cannot understand. | must 60
away from here, for in time You will all
turn against me-and have been so hap
py. l would rather die than have you
think any harm"


She could not finish the sentence


Don't cry so," said Edwin, slipping his
arm round her waist in an almost uncon-
scious attempt to give comfort. "You
ought to know, Rachel, l could never
think evil of you. This business will be
cleared up one day, and you will come out
bright as the sun: But whatever happens
| shall always believe in you and trust YOU
like my own heart and if know myself.
Rachel it is all yours, the same through
evil and through good report


This was not said very glibly. but s,am-
mered over in u way that attested its sin
ceriry.


Rachel trembed The little hand that
lay upon her lap was by some means
clasped in Edwins large brown one. Her
throat was still convulsed with sobs. a
damp handkerchief was pressed to her
eyes: but there was Il little tract of cheek
uncovered, down which strayed a small
silky curl.


The supreme moment had come. Ed.
wins lips were approaching this enchant-
ing spot, but had not won the perfect
ecstasy of a first kiss, when pair of feet
came skipping down the path Rachel
pulled the broad-brimmed hat over her
face, and darted like Il frightened bird in
the opposite direction, among some trees.
In an instant Janet, the irrcpressible, who
always appeared where she was not want
ed, had turned the corner. She wore
tapping, starchless sun-bonnet over her
fuzzy hair, that had habit of arranging
itself every which way, and was carrying
Il basin of chicken feed down to the barn
yard. Edwin stalked off to the mill, in
tensely disguised at the end of his adven-
ture.


Things had come to crisis that morn
ing most Unexpectedly. For some weeks
the tall young miller had looked forward
to the time when he might find himself
making love to Rachel by slow and grad
ual approaches, which he rehearsed in
fancy as he sat in his den in the mill, with
the hair tumbled about his forehead and
a book before him-probably upside down
1t had turned out exactly contrary to his
anticipations. He had forgotten his hard
headed prudence and discretion, and had
rushed upon his fate. There were ecstatic
thrills mixed up with conflicting emotions.
AT moments he was fatuously spooney, and
most unreasonably happy in the assurance
that Rachel loved him, an awkward, red
faced, blunt fellow; there were other mo
ments when, spite of all he could do. a
mist of doubt stole over his heart. Edwin
had not II superstitious hair on his head,
but he could not help asking himself what
it was that had stolen with such a blight
ing influence over the life of this young
girl. who, come what might. was to be
his wife.


The men at the mill remarked that
young boss was not himself that morn
ing. He made mistakes in the accounts.
and ordered new brand Of flour put into
the wrong barrels, and then relieved HIM
self by berating the hands soundly for
their stupidity. Before noon he had sent
word up to the house that he was going
to ride to Bradford on business. and need
not be looked for until a late hour in the
evening


Mrs. Huntley stood before Huldah, who
sat by the window, where blooming