Year: 1872

Lanark S daughters, he seemed to enjoy
the society of them all. IF he seemed
more eager to talk with one than the
other, it was with Kate-not, perhaps
because he had found her more attract
i've but because she kept herself hidden
away from him so much. During the
brief interviews which had been per.
mitted him. he had found her not only
accomplished, but he thought he had de-
tected an undercurrent of plain, common
sense which had not appeared in the
others. And, again, when he had been
speaking Of his mother, he had noticed
Hates eyes grow moist with sympathetic
light. while her sisters had only smiled
IN their sweet pleasant way. lie fan
cied that through the gathering moisture
of those deep blue eyes he had looked
down into warm and tender heart-a
heart that was true and reliable


One bright morning Roland Archworth
rose with the sun and walked out into
the garden. BY and by he came round
by the porch, and entered the kitchen
to ask for drink of mills-for he had
just seen the gardner bringing in brim
ming pail from the stable.


! He went in, and saw Kate Lanark at
the moulding board, her white arms bare
to the shoulders, kneading snowy pile
of dorgh She did rot see him at first
and he had moment for thought-and in
that momentsshe truth flashed upon him.
! Here was the cook whom he had praised
the cook whom he declared he would
have in his own house if he could get
her And he could now understand
the blushing of the maiden and the
laughing rejoiuder of the Judge And
he remembered now of having overheard
Mrs. Lanark speaking to a member of
the family of the sickness of the cook,
and how unfortunate it was. and so on.


With a clear scase and quick compre-
hension, aided by keen powers of an
a!ysis and reason, Roland read the whole
story. He had gone too far to retreat, SO
he pushed boldly on into the kitchen.


All, good morning, Miss. Lanark
Pardon my intrusion, but saw the milk
pail come in, and could not resist the
temptation. o! the old, old days |
never shall forget them, and | trust l
may never outlive them. 1t was any
boyhood's delight to take from my
mothers naud tlio cup VAIN Gv,n ,io
milking This is the first opportunity
that has presented itself for many long
years, and l could rot resist The tempta
ton You will pardon me | know


At first kate had been startled ter
ribly,; bnt she met the suppliants look,
aud the music of the old home love fell
upon her ear, and when she saw, as by
instinct. that the whole scene was pleas
ant to him, she felt her heart bound with
gleeful assurance and brushing the
fakes of dough from her arms. she went
and filed a bowl with the new milk and
and brougL; it to him.


i trust, she said, with beaming
smile, that the dust of toll upon my
hands will not render the offering less
acceptable


No matter what Roland replied. he
said something aud then drank the milk
He evidently longed to linger in the
kitchen. but p'opriety forbade, and, with
more of his zeal feelings in his looks
than in his speech, he retired.


A few days thereafter the young
banker sought the Judge in his study,
and said as he took seat, that he had
something important to say.


Il come he said, to ask of you that
may seek the hand of your daughter.


The Judge was agreeably surprised.
He had fancied that of late the youth
had been growing cold toward his
daughters.


My dear boy said he. between you
and me there need be no beating abo ut
the bush. should be both proud and
happy to welcome You as my son
Which of the two is it |?


of the two 2 repeated Roland.


'Ah; is it Isabel or Bertha :?


Neither, sir. it is Kate | want


Kate p cried the old man in blank
astonishment. But quickly glad light
danced in his eyes.


Yes, Judge. your Kate is the woman
I want if eau win her.


But, my dear boy. how in the world
did you manage to find my pearl, my
ruby, among the household jewels
Where and when have you discovered
the priceless worth of tia: sweet child Z


Il discovered it first in the kitchen.
Judge first fell irrevocably and truly
in love with her when found her with
her white arms bare, making bread l
have known her better since. 1t is your
Kate want


God bless you. my boy. Go and
win her if you can. And be sure. you
gain a treasure


Roland went away, and half an hour
afterward. the supernal light that danced
in his eyes told the story of success.