Year: 1876

the pretty pond which nestled at their
feet, hiding the big knoll, where a group
Of gigantic pine trees kept watch and ward
over the meadows below them, and shut
ting out even the sunset.


Tho acme of ugliness was reached, and
the disappointed farmers revenge must
have been fully satisfied, when the build
ing had been painted the brightest, taw.
driest yellow that ever disgraced paint
pot, and "Marshall's Barn. had become
a by.word in the neighborhood.


"What can't be sured must be endur.
ed" Mr.. Dean remarked to his daughter
by way of saying something both original
and comforting.


But Miss Alice had no idea Of sitting
down patiently to endure, when. though
q cure was not to be hoped for, it might
be At least amended. The mountain would
not move for Mahomst, and the barn was
not likely TO be more accommodating
but something might perhaps be done iu
the way Of hiding it. And Alice was to
be seen daily on the lawn, busily at work
with her own hands, and experimenting
the laboring of others. Hitherto the bal
cony had been left entirely open, with
nothing to intercept the beautiful western
view but now vines began to grow there
seeming to vie with each other in hasten.
ing upward with their delicate leafy wall
and hanging baskets with tall plants aud
long streamers of luxuriant ivy did what
they could in the common cause. Here
and ther. screens of lnttce.work were
set up, where, one OF these days, roses
would bloom and o hawthorn hedge was
planted, and coaxed with every cunning
device for speedy growth.


All this did very we'll while summer
lasted but when the autumn winds and
frosts had laid bare every tree and shrub
stripped the leaves from the vines, and
carried destruction among the flower bas.
kets, then the barn stood forth again il
its nakedness, a great yellow blot upon
the landscape.


Mr.. Dean tried to take the affliction
philosophically, since there was no RENE.
dy for it, and succeeded in puttiOg it out
of his mind about as we'll as people gener-
ally do when a thing is constantly in
in sight. But Alice, who was q young
lady of some spirit, was at no pains either
to lessen or conceal her indignation Her
mother had been dead for many years,
and on coming homo from school year
before, the marriage Of her only sister
had left her sole mistress of her fathers
home. She had the greatest pride and
delight in her ancestral home; and these
feelings, together with her artistic sense
of the beautiful in nature, we're so CALLED
by this hideous barn, set under her very
eyes. that she could never look at it with.
out Autter Of wrath, sometimes silent
but often outspoken.


1t was during the winter which follow.
ed the building of this barn that young
Marshall, as he was called, returned from
Europe. John Marshall had bestowed
upon this only son every opportunity for
that extended intelligence and culture
which those of bis name had hitherto con.
sidered Of little worth compared to the
accumulation OF lands and stocks. There
is money enough" he said, land John
shall have what he wants, provided he
does not squander ia sin whish the
young man did not seem inclined to com
NIT, since, though he knew how to spend
generously, he had never yet exceeded
the ample allowance granted him by bis
father.


Sole heir to the Marshall farm, which
had grown to be the largest in the couu.
try, good looking, frank and jovial, and
with an case and grace of manner confer.
ed by three years Of foregn travel, he
speedily became the lion of Silverton. Al
the village parties and social gatherings
all united to do him honor, with oue ex.
cepton. A baughty bow was the only
acknowledgement that Alice Dean would
vouohsafe his presence. She could no,
be brought to include herself in any
conversation in which he took part, and
her cool withdrawal from a group which
he ohanced to join would often place theiI
mutual friends in embarrassing positions
Her father. having noticed this on one
occasion when they had been out together
demonstrated with her on their return
mildly suggesting that she should keeE
her angry feelings q little more out O
sight. This young man is not To blam,
for his fathers conduct, you know" b,
concluded.


"Of course not" said Alice "but he'
his fathers son, and chip Of the ole
block, daresay No." she added. afte,
a moments silence, sits OF no use trying
| can never be civil to Marshall witt
that hideous yellow barn staring me il
the face"


Five minutes later, Mr.. Dean, VIII,
had taken up and was looking over hi
newspaper. laid it down in a hurry a
Alice remarked, in a slow, deliberate wa,
as though she had at last made up he
mind


Papa, that barn will be the ruin a
my t'mper. | am going to set FIRE to it.


Mr.. Dean glanced about the room
half afraid that they we're not alone be
fore he replied;


MY child, that may be pleasant lit
tie joke Of yours. but it is lucky tha
there was no one to hear it but myself"


ut is no joke at all, papa, | am quit
serious. | have been thinking about
for some time, aud l mean to do it,"


Mr.. Dean took of his eye. glasses, an
looked attentively at his daughter. "Upo
my word, believe the child has som
such intention" he said to himself. T
her he said


at is your opinion, then, that 20
have a right to make way with you
neighbours property whenever your pleas
ure is not consulted in its situation ?"


1T is my opinion" said Alice, wit
the confident logic Of eighteen year
that my neighbor has 70 right to set u
an abominable nuisance under my yer