Year: 1871

OdrUdId OudUIlUu 3 uUl1Cs


The old House at Renbank was
drowsily waiting, in the sur shine. for
it's young mistress to open .he doors


At one side of the green dooryard
two cherry trees were in full bloom,
sending in through the open window a
gentle fragrance, that at MONDAY
would be hardly perceptible, while the
little brown bees went hunming hither
and thither, gathering the first sweet
honey of the season.


Inside the house all was still; only
the old clock ticking away in its cor
ner, where it had stood for genera
ton. On the round oak table, between
the windows, was q bunch Of violets,
breathing out summer perfume, and
making one think of green woods and
sunny banks; while across the uncar
peted floor, yellow sunshine was play
ing at hide-and- seek with the little
shadows of the elm tree branches.


BY and by there was step on the
upper stair, and then, slowly and
thoughtfully, as if she were taking
leave of something at every step, Bar
bara Chabrion came down the stairs.


On the window seat music box was
standing, flinging upward q strain of
melody that touched her heart with
subtle pain. As she paused moment
at the foot of the stairs, to listen to the
tender tune she had heard hundred
times before, a long yellow sunbeam
stole in through the window and light
cd up the pale face.


Ah! how warm and sweet it felt /!
How fragrant the roses were, and how
like a rosy rain the honey-suckles
hung above the door, dripping with
dew, and bright with sunshine.


Suddenly she caught sight of face
at the window-dark eyes that we're
making eager scrutiny Of her face


In Just that moment she had
thought.


"Ah! it is the young heir, viewing
his possessions. 1t is the signal for
me to grow brave"


And he had thought:


"They told me no one lived here but
a child. and one of her mothers old
servants. But heie is a beautiful
young girl, just dawning into woman
hood, with eyes like those Of the ssr-
rowing angels, and a face tender and
pure as lily! And where will she go
i'll take possession here3 Perhaps I
shall lose her forever"


Such thoughts had flashed through
each brain, aud then the door swung
open and Barbara stood on the thresh-
old, inviting him 10 enter.


"Mr. Thornton, presume2"
He took off his cap aud smiled an
assent.


"And you are Miss ChabrionT'


ayes; we had not expected you uu-
til tomorrow"


II was near here, and never having
seen the property which my father
left to me in this village, l thought
would see it in the pleasant morning
light. Do you not think there is o
good deal in that-in the light thai
surrounds q new possession


II suppose there must be, though
cannot speak from experience. 1hav'
always lived just here. I was horr
here, and it seems to me there cannot
be q sweeter spot in the world"


There we're tears In her voice, then
even if there we're none in her eyes.


"Perhsps, them" be said, smiling a
the doubt his words expressed, "per
hsps you would consent to stay until
can hud some one to take care of thu
place. You know just what care i
needs, and II you should want more
help than you have now"


"The woman who lives with mi
takes care of the place, and Of me too
she answered, her face fairly brimmint
ever with glad smiles, land If you w
llst Ton Disbrow stay with us to dt
the work for which our hanis are toe