Year: 1873

lCONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.


I'm sure l don't know what eyer
should have done," she said, s'if it hadn't
been for the cottage! So kindly ordered ?"


No longer encountered with servants or
relations, Miss Plumtree managed to live
delightfully."- in her new quarters, and new
er admitted that she missed a single COM
fort; until the day the news came that the
savings bank, where her tiny maternal
fortune was treasured, and not penny
was left. For one moment Miss Plumtree
stood still as she listened to the tale; but
in another the magic lantern was produced.
and new object thrown in bold and bril-
liant relief upon the snowy foreground of
her future.


II am sure l dom know what should do
now, if hadn't amused myself once by
learning dress.making. So kindly order
ed.' she said, with such smile that peo-
pie were almost ready to believe that this
was the pleasantest thing that had ever
happened to her From that day Miss
Plumtree no longer lived alone. Every
morning she trippel forth, work-bag in
hand, and fitted like little business wo-
man, as she was, to one house or another
as her engagements might demand. Ev-
cry one thought it pleasure to see her
sitting by their workable her form was
graceful yet, and the wavy hair, drawn
back from her forehead and knotted care
fully behind, gave such q classic contour
to her head. These were her only beatl-
ties, except the smile. and that made every
one feel as if the sun shone on the darkest
day.


And so all went ON beautifully for time,
until Miss Plumtrec began to find herself
inconvenienced by a severe pain in one of
her eyes. Sometimes she came to work
with green shade over it, sometimes she
did not come at all, and at last was obliged
to give herself fairly into the physicians
hands. For few weeks she sat at home
alone once more; after that the pain
ceased and she felt quite well again, but
the sight of the unrnly member was gone
for eye. Miss Pumtree Immediately
looked up her little book of engagements,
and appeared next morning at the door
where she had been promised for that day,
three months before, the illumination light
ing up everything before her


Il don't know what ever should have
done," she said ''if it hadn't been for hav-
ing another eye"


Miss Plumtree had given up the hab-
it of sitting with her face against the
pane, ever since the night she had seen the
shadowy figure pass along the RUSTY grass.
But she still kept up her little twilight
season OF thinking over matters, and how
kindly everything had been ordered for
her ever since she could remember.


"But poor dear Jack!n She had been
so happy in thinking of his having every
thing, and now she heard he was running
it through very fast, and sure to get into
trouble before long. She wondered if he
would ever consent to come and share with
her if the worst came to the worst. She
was afraid he would not, everything would
seem such a change. And there was some
one else ! How changed everything would
seem to him-to Philip--if he were ever
to come back But he could not have
heard that there was no one to interfere
She did not think he would ever hear
probably he had gone great way off and
would never know"


One November night Miss Plumtree, as
usual, slept her twilight thoughts quietly
away, and awoke to find great surprise
awaiting her. An invitation from some
friends living fifty miles away. to come
and pass few days with them. 1t was
the first invitation of any kind Miss Plum
tree had received since she left the old
house, and she really did not feel that she
ought to have any, now that she had no
longer any hospitality to offer. But here
was the letter, very positive indeed, and
refusing to take no for an answer. So she
put some things in satchel and set of
the next morning by the daily stage.


"l shall certainly be back the last day
of the month, y she said, 'for | am en-
gagged all the first week in December"


The days glided by as such days will
do, the oasis seeming smaller for its very
greenness in the desert, the last day of
the month arrived, the returning stage
was heard rafting down the village hill,
and there, on the drivers box, her nose a
little red with the cold, but luxuriating in
the free, fresh air, sat Miss Plumtree,
punctual to the hour and minute. How
good it would seem to see the little cot
tage again! They should make it in an
other minute, but Deacon Crambcrry's
house was so much higher, it cut OFT the
view, just here. Now they were passing
the deacon's. And Miss Plumtree began
to look under the apron for her satchel.


''Jeruselem - exclaimed the driver. and
Miss Plumtree looked quickly up. fallen
chimney, few blackened timbers, and n
| little curl OF smoke, We're all that was left
of the cottage. The two silver candle
sticks, the oval mirror, all were gone, only
the canary bird, fortunately left at the
deacons, and nothing for Miss Plumtree
but to take shelter under the same kindly
roof until she could have time to think
what must be done next


The ensuing day was Sunday. and when
the deacon's wife knocked at Miss Plum
trees door, she found her bonnetted and
cloaked. the illumination in full play, and
Miss Plumtree only waiting for the second
bell. I'm sure l ought to GO she said
with smile, which the deacon's wife de-
clared more beautiful than ever, for |
don't know what | should have done if it
hadn't been for saving the things in my
satchel. So kindly ordered -


SO she went, and when the day had
passed peacefully by, and the short De-
cember twilight was gathering, she Slip
ped away to her own room for her little
season belonging to the hour. What
strange things were happening all the
time And how strange it was that the
cottage had been burned just as the old
| 4. T.. fo J,l~t,