Year: 1872

star, twinkled out in the still blue heavens
over her head, as if that moment born
but suddenly there came footsteps crack.
ing the snow very near her, and con-
fused mnrmur of voices. Content, with
her heart in her throat, crept into little
copse OF hemlocks and young birches
lhe next moment there came the sharp
crack OF a rifle the Whit of a bullet, and
uttering long low cry, she fell forward
upon the ground. Good God! have hurt
somebody Content felt dimly that she
ought to know that voice. Through
painful dream, full Of distorted images.
she heard the bushes swapping and crack.
ing around her


"For heavens sake, who is it, What
| is io''


The dusk was growing very thick and
| inpenetrable there in the woods.


Horrors it's woman The blue hood
was pushed aside; face peered close ia
to hers, and then an agonized voice ex-
claimed Content Whitaker A groan
that concentrated all love and despair
echoed family in her ears


''ls she dead! No. Tear open her dress.
can hear her heart beat Where is She
hurt. The right arm seems helpless. She
IS in a fainting fit; sprinkle some snow iii





Gods sake. will carry her down to the
house


Content vaguely felt herself lifted and
borne along as if by rush of strong
wings She knew that her head was rest
ing on somebody's breast--that face full
OF anguish and unutterable love was close
to hers. Once she felt his lips touch her
forehead. 1t was solemn woful kiss that
seemed Ia plead for forgiveness. and
thrilled her through and through, for she
knew then that he loved her, and she was
so happy even when the sharp pain shot
across her consciousness, and she felt her
sell slipping away into something dark
and proiound-dying perhaps. Poor LITTLE
Content. she was glad to die there, it was
so much better than living anywhere else.


There must have been some sort of a.
l:tim given down at the farm house, for
when Content came to again she saw her
mothers scared white face at the door.
holding flaring candle, while all the
back ground was filled up with terrified
relatives Then voice shrilled out.


"Lord y massy. what is the NATTER
George Baker what have you been doing
with my Content?r


In the fright and confusion that ensued
nobody could ever tell how the particulars
Of the accident were narrated. Nothing
was made plain, except that George and a
companion had been out all day in the
woods cunning, and on their way home.
just at dusk, George had let off his
rifle in the bushes to clear it of its charge,
and had hit Content, and wounded her in
the arm. How she came there at that
hour Of the day was a mystery. She was
not dead or dying, but the great pain had
made her faint. George would not let
her out Of his arms. but carried her him
self into the sitting room, and laid her on
the great chintz-covered lounge. There
was Il grand rush tor camphor, lint and
bandages. Half dozen people were
sprinkling water in Contents white face
at the same time, and keeping away every
breath of fresh air. Mrs. Whitaker sat
down in the kitchen looking little'wild.


''lou must do what you can, Keziah,"
said she to her sister-in-law; for you
know when anything happens to one of
the children You could knock me over with
4 feather"


The wound in the arm was the only in
jury Content had sustained. 1t was an inn
mense relief to have the doctors verdict
on that point, but the fracture was a bad
one, and the poor girl tainted dead away





| splintering. There were many hands
ready to help. but George did really all
that required doing He was alert, intel
ligent, and active. and had his wits about
him. tall, powerful fellow was George
with a touch as gentle as a woman's and
4 reserved force that made sick eyes turn
to him in confidence. Now he bent over
Content and let his fingers rest a moment
on her beautiful hair, or linger against her
cheek, and it helped her to bear the pain,
so that she looked up into his face and
smiled more than once


twas all over at last. The taintness had
passed away, and Content was quite her.
self. though still very pale. The doctor
had sent everybody ont of the little sitting
room but George, and Content lay on thc
lounge among her pillows with chestnut
hair mcoied-the fiery light playing upon
it in rIddy CLEANS. Mrs. Whitaker op.
ened the door. She had returned to her
usual huStling condition, but her head was
held pretty stiff; there was little crusti-
ness in her manner, rs if a whte-frost had
nipped her customary geniality.


MIR. Baker, said she, 1--WE won't noub-
lie You any further. You will want to be
getting home. OF course we sha'nt hold
no grudge on Contents account. Nobody
thinks yonmeant to harm her, but this gun
ming business does seem dreadful foolish
pastlme for young men; and spOse we
may be thankful that we haint ali had our
brains blown out afore now"


Il would sooner have put my own arm
in the fire than harm one hair of Contents
head" said George with quiver of deep
feeling in his voice. you can't blame
me more than | blame myself. but don't
drive me away from her yet. have much
to say. and will do her no injury"


LET him stay, mother" said Content,
with the purest rose-red mantling in her
pale cheek, and her eyes Frightening as
they had not for many day. "LetGeorge
stay, mother. if you love me-"


George somehow got hold OF the Old
ladys hand and squeezed it hard, and then
somehow he printed kiss on her cheek.
and when she went back into the keeping
room there was an appearance Of moisture
about her eyelashes.


"I never did see the beat. dear suss -