Year: 1872

there had as yet, come no more pugnent
fiavor than that of duty and work. He had
come out from town in the late train, as
usual, and was now walking quickly, in
the cold, fresh air of the early spring eve.
ning, towards the gray, old country-house
IN the midst of its embosoming elms and
willows. Ills mother met him. as she al
ways ud, at the door, that she might the
sooner give him her welcoming kiss, and
admire anew his slender height, and the
manly strength of his young face As the
woman turned and drew him into the hal
the lamplight fell full on her face 1t was
quiet, subdued, pale and somewhat worn,
oat with patience and hope, unconquer-
able by any circumstances, shining out Of
her steady dark eyes, aud serenity of
faith about her lips that made her mouth
lovely. They were everything to each
other, this mother and son. Years before.
so many that John scarcely remembered
him, his father had died. He was clergy
man in country town, gentle, conscien-
tions, overworked and poorly paid, and SO
no wonder il he soon became too weary to
hight the battle of life, and rested in his
youth from all struggle forever more His
wlfe was stronger. She came to live in
tins peaceful old house that had been her
fathers, and was indeed her sole inheri-
tance, and sewed, taught, raised and sold
Howers, anything to win bread for herself
and child. She never faltered, her cour-
age and perseverance were wonderful
Now her son. with flial gratitude. took
upon himself the burden of their mante.
nance, and let her rest Il little. lie had
cleIkship with a Boston firm; it did not
yield too abundant income, but it sup
ported them in modest comfort, and it was
not their way to complain. He had found
time for culture and means to indulge in
some elegant tastes. The sitting-roo in
to which he followed his mother, had some
really valuable pictures on the walls.
There was piano, with flowers, books,
and the little graceful appointments that
make room seem like home There was
small table at the back of the room
spread for tea with the whitest linen, the
dantiest china, and delicate viands to
tempt the appetite The mother poured
tea, and helped her son with quiet
solicitude and subducd pleasure pretty to
| see.


John Norman's face, after the first
brightness of pleasure at returning home
had left it. was rather thin and pale for
one so young. He looked tired and hard
worked, His mouth was thin-lipped, and
rather stern, his hair close-cut, the fore
head high and white-in short he looked


like any trim, respectable clerk When
he raised his eyes, however, large, dark,
beautiful, full of poetry and Imagination,
passionate heart that found no other ex-
| preston, seemed revealed


~ on are tired, John ~ said his moth
er.


Not more than usual, mother; make
long day, you know. A little music will
rest me by-and-by,' said he cheertully


"Did younotice AS you came along, that
the Ashley house was open?H


No he said laughing, II always
hurry home as quickly as possible, with
no thought but of you and SUPPER


The family are coming to live here for
a time. Mr.. Ashley and one daughter, a
beauty and a belle, have been told, are
all that are now left You must call on
them with me, John, we are such near
neighbors, and Mr.. Ashley has been kind
TO us in various ways, you know"


81 should think, mother mine," said
John lightly, "that man OF wealth and
position, and lady, who is u beauty and
belle, Were rather out of our way, but if
you wish me to help you thank Mr.. Ashley
for any service he has done us, | will do
so with pleasure.


In few weeks the hasty cleaning and
furnishing of the old Ashley house was
completed, and Mr.. Ashley came with his
daughter. He was not well, he said, he
was tired and needed rest Where could
he find it better than III the home of his
boyhood? To his daughter it would be
totally new experience, this spring in the
country.


Helen Ashley was twenty, but thought
herself mature woman, who had weigh
ed in the balance. and found wanting most
of the things of this world. She was very
beautiful, in a certain statuesque way.
Grecan profile, an almost transparent pal
or of complexion, large. clear gray eyes,
and an abundance of bright golden hair,
drawn severely back from her temples,
and wound in coils about her head. A
mind cultured and refined lit up her clear
cut face like lamp, but it was as if II
statue were about to speak


She received Mrs Norman and her son
with an easy grace, and finding refined
woman, and well-bred. intelligent young
man, was disposed to like them at once
and to feel pleasure that they were to be
near neighbors. Neither her father nor
herself had any vulger pride OF wealth,
and forgot or easily ignored the want of
it in their guests.


Quite a little intimacy sprang up be-
tween the families


Miss Ashley was one of those wise ma
lures that extract all the sweetness possi-
bic from the present, that take the gifts
the gods send, without looking too far into
the future. With perfect health, a sweet
temper, youth and beauty. this was not
difficult. Every new aspect of nature,
every new person with whom she became
acquainted interested her like new book.
She was singulary free from self COM
sciousness, and eonvcrsed in graceful
unaffected way that always charmed her
listeners


To John Norman this beautiful girl was
like revelation. 1t was only polite he
thought, as her father was ill, for him to
take her to walk and to drive, that she
might see and enjoy the waking beauty of
the little country town, that was so lovely
in the summer. When Miss Ashley came
the elm and the mape-that tree which