Year: 1874

last, with tears in her eyes, Its going to
spoil all our good times''


1T is very unpleasant mistake from
beginning to end,' said Arabella, with an
effort to compose herself; - but it proves
conclusively that Ralph Strong, whatever
else he may be, is no gentleman.


You are wrong therer' cried Frank,
with flashing eyes; and then. like the true
woman she is, she bravely took up the alb
sent ones defense


1t seems that the nephew, Ralph Hill,
when the farmer went to call him that
memorable evening, was absent at the
time So Ralph Strong was sent in his
place. Accepting our cordial invitation
to visit US, without the least suspicion that
we were taking him for other than he was,
he had come and gone in blissful 4igno-
rance, until one evening, while confidine
in Frank some bits of personal history, he
Glanced to discover the mistake we were
! making, and was eager at once to explain
but Frank, partly from love of miscLi f.
and partly for fear that the explanation
would put an end to his coming, begged
him to keep quiet for awhile. so the
, fault is Ill mine" she said and now you
may call him what you like-flrmer Hills
nephew OF farmer Hills hired man-to me
he is and has been from the first, simply
Ralph Strong, the truest and best man |
have ever known"


And all Arabella's arguments failed TO
convince her that ploughing and rcaping
for farmer Hill had in any way lessened
his manhood, or that in marrying farm
er she would be booming herself to life
of daily drudgery So there was nothing
more to be said. She was of age, and had
u perfect right to do as she pleased: but
it seemed 50 odd that Frank, who had re-
fused more offers than she could we'll re-
member, was, after ALL going to marry
farmer Hills hired man.


1t came to light little later that he
was himself the owner of Il handsome
farm, and had hired himself to farmer
Hill chiefly for the purpose of learning
how TO manage it, having discovered, in
college, that he knew far more of astron-
omv than of agriculture; but even this
modifying fact could not restore Arabella's
composlre.


Father and mother came home in the
fall and we all went back to town-and AT
Christmas there was a wedding. Ara
bella declared that it WIS disgrace tc
the family; but father, who is quick al
reading men, said Ralph Strong was wor-
thy of any woman, and that Frank had
shown her good sense.


They have been married three wear.
now, and Grace and | 90 to visit then
every summer. Their home is little
Eden, and Frank is as happy as a queen
To be sure she has some care, as every
wife and mother must have; but can't see
that She is one bit more of Il drudge thar
any city woman; and, as for her husband
he grows nobler and better every day, a.
every true man must who has Il true wife
to help him.


Arabella has not vet been to see them
but | don't think her injured dignity car
hold out much longer; for Frank with tn,
sweet forgiveness of her nature, ha:
named her baby for her, and a daintiel
" baby Bell" was never seen. They ar,
going to bring her to town soon, anG
Grace and feel sure that she will prov,
little peace-maker.


Speaking of Arahella, it reminds m,
that last summer. we met farmer Hill
nephew himself-the other Ralph They
say he is rich; but, poor fellow. he i
greatly to he pitied, for he not only ha
weak "narves,0 bat weak head as well
and even Arahella-worldly minded a
She is-could she once see him, would b,
quite willing 10 acknowledge that Franl
had made u happy mistake, in taking the
hired man instead.