Year: 1872

The night shadows were beginning
to settle down upon the earth. Al
day the rain had been falling, some
times in heavy showers; the roses anC
pinks in the garden had sickly look
for the petals hung low and were
heavy with water and mnd that had
splashed upon them. The cloud.
were still dark and threatening, be
speaking stormy night The little
town of Ashton was unusually Y quiet
The streets were too inclement to en-
tice people from their homes. Only
now and then a solitary traveller wa.
to be seen. These business had driy
en- forth and they walked with rap
id steps, anxious to again get under
the shelter.


In vine-wreathed cottage on Q
6ower-sprinked lawn, the supper had
been waiting over an hour for tn,
master of the house, whose business
necessitated his being absent from
home all day. Mr. Jacobs was the
tax collector of the township, and con
sequently could not await the return
of pleasant weather before pursuing
his journey. Therefore he had
equipped himself in his India rubber
over garments in the morning and had
gone about his business, leaving his
wife with the promise of an early re-
turn in the evening but supper had
come and gone without him making
an appearance. Mrs. Jacobs, howev.
er, was not anxious as yet. Such de.
lays were too frequent to cause thi.
one to give her any uneasiness Of
mind.


She fitted about the house, busy
with her evening duties, singing gay
song as she went. She was bright
little woman, with the word courage
written in her dark, sparkling eyes,
and on the firm red lips.


Anon she disrobed her two little
ones and put them to bed, and when
the night shadows turned into an inkv
blackness, she seated herself by the
lamp and began to sew, still leaving
the supper-table spread, and the food
on the stove keeping warm for the re-
turn of her husband. But the little
clock on the mantie-shelf had told the
hour of ten before his step was heard
at the door. He came hurriedIy in,
and strobe to a seat without remov-
ing his dripping outer garments or
his muddy boots.


II must go to Winchester to night, -
he said, in answer to his wife's ques-
tioning look


"To Winchester :" repeated his wife
in dismay. Twenty miles in the
storm !"


He removed his hand from his
pocket, took off his hat, and brushed
back his fair hair, revealing the hand
some face of light complexioned
middle aged man. He had large grey
eyes, but they wore an anxious ex-
preston, and their glances wandered
restlessly about the apartment.


Jane" he said, suddenly, again
diving his hand into his troublesome
pocket, "do you suppose you could
take care of large sum of money till
?"


Any, yes" she answered, looking
up in surprise.


81 have collected FIVE thousand dol
Iars," he continued, "and it is too late
to get into the bank, and l do not care
TO carry SO much with me-"


"Well, you can leave it here as
well as not. No one would think of
my having such a sum of money"


He drew large wallet from his
pocket and placed it in her hands.


ut belongs to the government, and
If you let it pass from you, l am ru-
Ined," he commented. And he arose
rs If to depart.


you are going to eat some sup
peri 7" she enquired.


"No, have no time tolose. / must
make Winchester by midnight. Good
by. Take good care of hemoney and
fasten all the doors.n


He gave her a hurried kiss aud the
next moment he was gone.


But the sound of his footsteps had
scarcely died away before Mrs. ia.