Year: 1871

mend the break" he said I" but where
is there anything to be got in this open
plain, and at this time Of night.


"Can | be Of service to you, gentle.
men ?" asked Hardy, as he came up. |
happen to have a cord and jack knife
and, between us, | guess the difficulty
can be overcome"


A bit of the harness had given way,
which Hardy tied up as readily as if job
bing had been his profession


There, gentlemen" he said giving
his handiwork strong pull, "you are safe
for few miles, but you had better look
at the breach OCCASIONAL"


i" You cannot think what service you
have done us, young man !" Grid voice
from within the carriage. ave have
been delayed an hour, already, and our
party are waiting for US at Chester
But, pray, how does it happen that you
are abroad so late, and alone, and how
are you travelling yourself?"


"Who knows but he takes me for
highwayman?" thought Hardy. had
better own up, frankly.


I" am a student from the college, and
am going to Chester to hear Mr. Choate
speak tomorrow. That is how happen
to be here so late and alone"


"Well, jump in, sir. There's plenty
Of room here. We cannot leave you be-
hind, after the service you have rendered
u.s."


The students modesty was overrued,
and Hardy found himself rolling towards
his destination on the softest of spring
seats and velvet cushions. He soon dis
covered that he was in company with
some of the political speakers who were
to be the lions of the following day. Af-
ter a civil remark or two, the stranger
was left to his own thoughts and obser-
vations.


Arrived at Chester, the whole party
were set down at the principal hotel.-
A porter bowed the travellers into the
private room where friends were awaiting
them.


Hardy stood upon the hotel steps,
wondering what he should do next
He had calculated upon getting to Ches-
ter in the morning, and obtaining little
rest in some by-place but here he was
and he was not quite sure that he ought
to leave the hotel without thanking the
gentlemen for their attention to him.


While he stood hesitating, the waiter
stepped up to him, saying his room was
ready, and inquiring whether he would
60 to it.


81 have not ordered ROOM"


"The gentlemen say you will please
consider yourself their guest"


make my excuses to them, then.-
AS they seem to be engaged | will not
intrude."


Hardy stepped off the hotel steps, and
walked away into the night again. The
brief taste of luxury and ease had told on
him, and something like bitter unrest
rose up in his heart as he contrastcd his
hard lot with that of the social party he
had left. and who were, no doubt, at that
moment sitting down to II sumptuous re-
past, while he was unsheltcred, and three
herrings, and Il few coppers in his pocket.


"Never mind,' he said, looking up at
the cold, bright stars "Mr. Choate was
poor, once, and now the country is all
aroused because he is to speak here.
had rather SLEEP on IL stone than on bed
of charity


Our student managed to shelter his
honest head until morning, and when the
moment arrived for Mr. Choate's address
to commence he was there. The hall
was crowded to its utmost capacity
Hardy had chosen his seat with deter
minaton that, let what would come, he
would not resign it. lie had come to see
and hear Choate, and he would be graft
fed The crowd was immense. After
the usual pressing, and tramplng, and
elbowing by the audience, Mr.. Choate
was announced, and applauded, and
then the hush of expectancy prevailed.


At that moment, decrepit old man
tottered close to Hardy's chair, with no
more power to resist the swaying crowd
than an infant. In an instant the stu
dent sprang to his feet, and placed the
old man into it; and that was the last
he remembered until he found himself
half way up one Of the hall-pilars, with
his mouth wide open, his throat as dry as
cob and feeling all over as if he had
been indulging IN long, rapturous dream,
from which the awakening was both
pleasant and painful.


When he became conscious that Mr..
Choate's Grafton was over, he dropped
from his elevated position as limp as if he
had been wruug out in Dotys washing
machine. Then voice from the platform
cried out, Mr.. Hardy, you will find Il
seat this way


If somebody had shipped that modest
students head directly from his body, it
could not have spun with greater agility
he looked round to see how many Mr..
Hardys there were in the crowd, but a
long finger beckoned him forward, and he
must needs advance.


The gentleman who had noticed him
was of the party he had assisted the night
previous. le shook hands very cordial
ly, and seated him by his side Then the
next speaker was announced and by-and-
by it was all over, and the confusion
and applauding were greater than at first


Hardy was just slipping away, as a
modest man can, when hand was laid on
his shoulder.


"Have the Kindness to wait. We lost
sight of you last night We return your
way, aAd would be glad Of your compa.
ny. Mr. Choate, allow me to introduce
to you, a young man who has come twen-
ty miles on foot, to listen to your eo-
quence -


Our student did not dine on crackers
and herrings that day. After dinner,
} which included feast of reason and a
flow of SOUL, the carriage was ordered
and Mr. Hardy was set down at his door
who was looking out Of the window with
his crimson smoking cap on.
"Who in the world have you picked up