Year: 1875

trunk, the bag, the band-box, and the
great bulging cotton umbrella, and put
them all in the carriage without one
smile of ridiculc. He made his aunt 90
TO restaurant and refresh herself befre
starting on the long drive home. He
listened with respectful interest to all
the mishaps of the long journey. and
spmpathized with the Ruination of
every mortal stitch I've got on, dear,
in the dust and smoke"


And he chatted pleasantly of his
childish recollections of the tiny house
and wide farm where aunt Sabina
lived.


&c You see" she told him, ''I made
upmy mind this year, would coma to
London once before I died. I have
tried to before now, but something or
other has always hindered. Dear, dear!
You're all grown up, I suppose, and
you was but a lot of babies the last
time John brought you TO see me-"


''OOrinne is the youngest, and she
is eighteen. WILDER is the only one
older than am"


"Yes, remember. Well dear, I'm
glad Johns wife brought up such a fine
family. I'm only an old maid, but I
do love children and young folks"


But a chill fell on the kindly old
heart when home was reached at last,
and four fashionably dressed ladies
gave her a strictly courteous greeting.
But for the warm clasp of Fred's hand
I think she would have returned to the
station by the same carriage she came
in, so wounded and sore she felt.


Not one kiss" she thought, &c and
Fred kissed me at the train, right be-
fore ali the people,"


IL
hands of the servant girl who wss to
wait upon his aunt, promising another
If she was very attentive, and himself
escorted the old lady to her room. It
was not often the young mans indigna-
tion found voice, though it grew hot
over the many shams and acts of hard
selfshness in the house of his mother,
but he said some words that called a
blush to the cheeks of the worldly
woman.


1t was not a very busy season, and
finding that Sabina was likely to have
a sorry time if left to the other mem
bers of the family, Fred asked for a
holiday and appointed himself the old
lady's escort. He was too proud to care
for the fact that the quaint little
figure on his arm attracted many an
amused glance, but gravely stood by
while a new dress for Dolly, the dairy
maid, and a "city necktie" for Bob,
the ploughman, was purchased.


He gave undivided attention to the
more important selection of a new black
silk for aUntie, herself and pleasantly
accepted blue silk scarf, with large
red spots, that was presented to him,
approaching the love that prompted
the gift and mentally resolving to wear
it when he paid promised visit to the
farm. He drove Aunt Sabina to the
park. He took her to see all the sights.


Once or twice, meeting some of his
gentlemen friends, they had thought
/" the queer old party is some rich rela-
ton, Gorham is so very attentive" and
had delighted Sabina by their deferen-
tial attentions.


Once-Fred had not counted on that
in a picture gallery, Cordelia Cald-
we'll saUntered in alone. She had heard
of Sabina through the disgusted com
ments of Lucilla, and she had no prop
erty but miserable farm" but she
greeted Fred with a smile far more cor
dial than she usually gave her admirers.
A little lump came into Fred's throat,
Then he gravely introduced the stately
beauty, in her rustling silk, to the old
fashioned figure on his arm.


"My aunt, Miss Gorham, Miss Cald-
we'll.


They admired the pictures together,
and the young lady was cordial and
chatty.


After they came down the steps, Miss
Caldwell said


'You must let your aunt drive an
hour or two with me, Mr.. Gorham. l
am going to do some shopping, so 1
shall not tax your patience by asking
you to join us, but shall be pleased if
Miss Gorham will dine with me, and
you will call for her this evening"


Then she smiled again, made S7bina
comfortable in the carriage and drove
off, leaving Fred iorty times deeper in
love than ever, as she intended he should
be.


'He is a very prince Of a man." she
thought, ''and I'll give him one days
rest. Bless the dear old soul, she has
just such blue eyes as my dear grand
mother"


Then she won Sabina's confidence,
and found she was worrying about the
purchase of certain household matters,
that.would not go in the black leather
trunk, and that she did not like to worry
Fred about it.


She drove to the places where the
best goods could De 1eG, Keeping SuaFQ
over the slender purse against ali i'm
position, till the last towel was satisfac-
torily chosen and directed. Then she
drove her home, and brought her 20 the
room where &C grandmotheE" was queen,
knowing the stately old lady would
make the eountryWoman welcome.


In the evening that followed, Fred's
heart was touched and warmed, till,
scarcely conscious of his own words, he
told his long g-cherished secret, and knew
that he had won love for love.


Aunt Sabina stayed two weeks and
then went home, TO the immense relief
OF the G0rhams, and carrying no regret
of leaving any but Fred and COrdelia.


It was not even suspected that Cor
della spent four weeks in the height Of
the summer season listening to the
praise of Fred at Sabina's farmhouse,
and even Fred did not know 1t until he
came, too, after she was gone, and had
his share of the pleasure of hearing low
ing commendatiOn of one he loved.


He wore the necktie, and made him
self so much at home that Sabina wept
some of the bitlerest tears Of her life
when he left.


ssTo have you both, and lose you y
she sObbed.


s. Next time we viii come together
Fred whispered, and so cOnsoled her.


n1o.t Tho uevt time Fred eame