Year: 1876

walk had done much for her, but she
was not indebted to that for more than u
little extra color. She WAS dressed in
perfect taste, and | think was we'll worth
walking out before break fast to have u
look at. And in this opinion Edward
Featherby fully agreed. lie kept at her
side as long as he dared, and then turned
back to his hotel with regret. 1t was his
intention to meet her after school hours,
but his plans were not good and ho miss
ed her. In the evening DIR. Folds took
him to call on Miss Manley, and he en-
joyed himself thoroughly. But when he
sat down in his room his thoughts ran to
the figure he had seen in the morning.


Every morning for the next week found
him going towards the elm walk before
breakfast, but he had the entire path to
himselt-the school teacher was invisible.
Then hs called upon her. Miss Norney
was not q native OF Newhall, otthis much
he was possessed but whore her homo
was ho neither knew nor cared. and pre-
TERED to remain in ignorance, fearing
questioning might reveal something that
would necesstate him to disclose his own
home, Miss Norney boarded at farmer
Hooper's, and at farmer llooper's, Fcuth-
erby found hor. She was playing soli-
tary game ot croquct in the yard, aud of
very good game it was just as wol !.
they had all the more excuss for taking,
and in the end to drop the nallets and go
walking up the road. Featherby was
good talker Miss Nerney was capital
hstoner. He talked his best tonight,
and all the better because sho followed
him so closely and understood him so
thoroughly.


Lite to young man who is worth two
millions is not like life as you and | look
at it, dear reader. And yet, when you
think of tho walks you took when the
sunset glow was still in the west, and of
the little hand that lay SO lightIy and
trustngly ON your arm, do you not think
your words and feeling were rs care free,
aud your hopes rs high as IT you Ind been
heir to all Solomon's wealth ? All, we
are all rich when we are young, and never
so rich rs when we draw pictures of what
we shall do for the girl we love. And the
trait of Miss Verney's character that
Featherby was most pleased with was
hsr naturalness. She was Thoroughly her
self he said, and very interesting self,
too. She told him of the duh routine of
the school room, OF her distaste for her
work but she was compelled to be indo-
pendent, and sho made the bost of it.


How no pitiad the little thing But
he admired her for working. She would
not bo a drag on har father (ho had heard
her mention her father : she proferod to
work and be independent. That was n
noble Independence and he respected her
for the leeIing.


But all evenings como to an end, and
! he had to take his leave. II he drcamt
that night, Miss Munley did not utrude
herself upon his mind. In the morning
he took his usual walk in the elm puth
and he met Miss Verney, as he know he
should. Another delightful half hour in
her company and he was beginning TO
be in love. Loves grows rapidly when
there is nothing to interfere. llo was
free to WOO whomsoever he would {; she
was likewise free and TO bo wooed.
They could meet every day If they wish.
ed, and their right to meet and love was
unquestioned. Newhull noticed that the
artist was devoting himself to the school
teacher but Nowhall said he seemed TO
be nice fellow and it would be II good
match, and then smiled on them in u
friendly, encouraging way.


1t was the evening of the third Of July.
Miss Verney had closed her school that
day for the Summer, and sho was ex-
hausted with hard days labor. She
was sitting on the porch of farmer Hoop
el's house. Featherby came up the path,
snw how tired she was, and said he would
not ask her to go down to the river as he
had intended, because she WAS so tired.


"No," said she getting up 81 am
not too tired for that and besides you-"
and she stopped and blushed. She had
said more than she meant to.


And me % he asked.


son, you deserve TO DO treated bet
tor, after walking up the hill," sho said,
/ laughingly.


lie was sure that was not what she
was going to say, but had to be salts
fed then. They went down the long
lane through the meadows to the river.
1t was pretty walk aud lovely river.
They had been there often before. But
neither was quite SO much at ease to-
night as usual.


She was going away in n few days to
spend her vacation at the home Of an
old school mate. lie was wondering ii
she loved him If it was possible that
she would give him Eyes" to the
question he was about TO ask her. He
had determined week before that he
would ask the question. She was every
thing that he wanted in a wife. She
was sweet tempered, beautiful, cuItiva-
ted and honest. Ii he had won her he
would have the satisfaction OF knowing
that she married him for himself, and
his future would be but little less per-
feet than Paradise.


IL wish you would tell mo what you
we're going to say about mo Tonight
he asked, after what seemed a long ST.
lence.


Il was going TO add that you would
rest me-" she said, with blushing can
dor.


His heart bsa. loudly; he took her