Year: 1873

like dream OF the past.


why, we shan't get home tonight -
We must stop the train We must do
something = calculated, turning to Ar
bella, whe. after properly thanking our
informant. mad followed me at her usual
diguified pace but her undisturbed air
exasperated me, and without waiting for
her to answer. hurried to the other end
of the car in search of the conductor.


There's no help for it, MISS" said that
polite official. III put you off at the
next station, that's only three miles on,
and you can easily find some one to bring
you back


Small consolation it was, but as the
last uptown train had already passed us
there was TO alternative; and presently
we were standing forlorn and desolate on
the platform of the Bedford station, three
miles from home, and the shades Of
night gathering about us with unwelcome
rapidity. Two unkempt boys. with their
hands in their pockets, stood staring
stupidy at US. Dun know, num- said
one of them, in answer to our anxious
inquiries, there ant nobody round here
as keeps hosses, 'cept farmer Hill and
having pointed out farmer Hills house,
they staggered away and left us to our
own devices. A tiresome tramp across
a plowed field brought us at last to the
farmers door, and here it was that We
were told to walk in and make ourselves
to hum till Ralph could come to our res.
cue. Five minutes later the old man re-
appeared, tanning himself vigorously with
his broad brimmed hat.


Here's Ralph Strong, he'll take you
over. And this was our introduction,
for, as he spoke, spring wagon drew up
at the gate, and the bronzed.faced driver
with gallant bow informed US that he
was at our service. Evidently farmer
Hills nephew, whatever might be the
state Of his 'narves,' was n man of intel
ligence and refnement-we made that
discovery before we were a mile on the
way-and so entertaining did he prove
that, tired and hungry as we were, we
we're half sorry when the ride came to
an end. Frank and Grace, alarmed at
our long absence, were watching for US
at the gate, and Arabella, with gracious
cordiaity, introduced the stranger ex.
planning in an aside who he was. Of
course, we invited him 10, and though, in
consideration Of the lateness of the hour,
he politely declined, he promised to do
himself the pleasure Of calling in few
days.


'Ho is very gentlemanly and agrcea'
ble,' said Arabclla, with emphasis, as
seated at the tea.table we narrated the
events of the day; and it must be con.
fessed that we were all rather elated at
the prospect of having our solitude inva-
ded now and then by this same gentle.
manly and agreeable person.


Beyond the simple fact that he was q
farmer Hills nephew from college we
knew nothing whatever about him, but
his face and voice were Of themselves
sufficient to inspire confidence, and before
many weeks went by we had come to re.
gard him as our right hand man. Ara.
bella consulted him on all matters Of bus
iness, and Grace aud l were constantly
asking his advice about gardening, while
Frank, who had set her heart on raising
brood Of chickens. held animated con.
terences with him as to the happiness Of
her feathered pets; at least when the
two sat for half an hour at time on the
back porch in the twilight watching the
little creatures nesting under the moth
ers wings,it was naturally to be supposed
that they formed the chief subject Of dis.
cussion.


1T is hardly polite to trouble Mr..
Strong so much about those chickens,
Frances Arabella would say. "A COL
lege man like him is not supposed to be
very familiar with the raising of poultry


Then it's high time he turned his at.
tention to it, said Frank, with mischief
lurking in her eyes.


Another cause of annoyance to our el.
der sister was the simplicity of Franks
toilets.


Il do wish my dear Frances that you
would make yourself look a little more
stylish. These young collegians are not
accustomed to seeing ladies dressed like
kitchen girls


But Frank declared that half the pleas
ure of living ia the country was the priv
ilege of dispensing with style. and per-
sisted in wearing calico dresses and white
aprons.


l don't think Arabella had the least
inclintaion to try matchmaking, or any
thing of the sort, she was simply anxious
to have her three girls make good i'm.
preston but her anxiety was oppressive,
and l, as well as Frank, occasionally re-
belled. Mr. Strong, l was sure, was too
sensible to like us any better in silk Dress
es and panniers than in plain calico. So
l followed Franks example, and certain
ly the sight Of the calico did not seem to
disturb him in the least. | don't know
what we should have done without him
that summer 1t was lonely enough at
times as it was, for our lew neighbors
were so scattered that We saw but little
of them, and even our city friends seldom
came for more than days stay, so the
young mans visits were doubly welcome.
In addition to being an entertaining talk.
er he was fine singer, and was always
ready to join us in a song; he brought
the newest book and revived our love Of
botany by constant contributions Of wild
flowers, aud regularly on Sunday evening
be escorted us all to church.


So the summer waned and autumn
came and we began to fear that our pleas
ant friend would soon be leaving us for
college Once or twice we had broached
the subject. but he seemed inclined to be
a little reserved about il and We let it
drop.


q don't soc why he's got to 20 at all, "
said Grace. " he knows enough now


He is certainly very intelligent for u
man OF his age" said Arabella, " but Of
course he wants TO finish his studies. |
wonder what he intends to be. 1t is
stranna that ha Ioes not tell NJ mar. in