Year: 1871




what his sister had hoped. John paid
more attention than ever to Huldah Man
ners because she was the victim of op-
preston.


The evening before Thanksgiving Day
the ladies were going to make visit
1t was not at all incumbent on John to
go, but he was seeking an opportunity TO
carry off the brilliant Miss Dunton, who
would adorn his parlors when he became
rich and distinguished, and who would
make so nice head-piece for his table.
And so he had determined to 90 with
them trusting to some fortunate chance
for his opportunity.


But, sitting in the old "best room," in
the dark while the ladies were getting
ready, and trying to devise way by
which he might get an opportunity to
speak with Miss Dunton alone, it occur
red to him that she was at the time in the
sitting-room waiting for his sister. To
step out to where she was, and present
the case in few words, would not be
difficult, and it might all be settled be-
fore his sister came down stairs. The
fates were against him, however. For
just as he was about to act on his thought
he heard Amanda Holmes abundant
dresses sweeping down the stairway. He
could not help hearing the conversation
that followed:


You see, Janet, / got up this trip to-
night to keep John from spending the
evening in the kitchen. He hasn't bit
Of dignity, and would spend the evening
romping with children and talking to
Huldah if he took it into his head"


"Well," said Janet, zone can overlook
everything in man of your brothers
culture. But what queer way your
country servants have of pushing them
selves. Wouldn't | make them know
their places"


And all this was said with the kitchen
door open, and with the intention of
wounding Huldah.


Johns castles tuubled. The erudite
wife alongside the silver tea-urn faded
out of sight rapidly. If knowledge could
not give touch of humane regard for
the feelings of poor girl toiling dutiful-
ly and selfdenyingly to support her fami-
ly, of what account was it


Two minutes before he was about to
give his life to Janet Dunton. Now,
there was a gulf wider than the world
between them.


He slipped out Of the best room by the
outside door and came in through the
kitchen. The neighbor's sleigh that was
to call for them was already at the door,
and John begged them to excuse him
He had set his heart on helping Huldah
make mincepies, as he used to help his
mother when boy, His sister was in
despair, but she did not say much. She
told John that it was time he was getting
over his queer freaks. And the sleigh
drove off.


For an hour afterwards John romped
with his sisters children and told stories
to the boys and talked to his father
When man has barely escaped going
over precipice he does not like to think
too much about it. John did not.


At last the little children went to bed
The old gentleman grew sleepy, and
retired. The boys went into the sitting
room and went to sleep, one on the
lounge and one on the floor. Huldah
was just ready to begin her pies. She
was deeply hurt, but John succeeded in
making her more cheerful. He rolled
up his sleeves and went to rolling ouI
the pastry. He thought he had never
seen sweeter picture than the young
girl in clean dress and apron, with hei
sleeves rolled above her elbows. There
was statuesque perfection in her well,
rounded arms. The heat of the fire haG
flushed her face a little, and she wal
laughing merrily at Johns awkward
blunders in pie-making. John was de
lighted, he hardly knew why. In fixing
pie-crust his fingers touched hers, an(
he started as if he had touched a galvan
ic battery. He looked at Huldah anC
saw half-painful expression on her Aush
ed face.


For the first time it occurred to hin
that Huldah Manners had excited il
him feeling thousand times deepe
than any thing he had felt towards Janet
who seemed to be now in another world
For the first time he realized that he ha,
been more in love with Huldah thai
with Janet all the time. Why not maj
ny her And then he remembered wha
the Governor had said about marrying
woman's heart and not her head.


He put on his hat and walked OUT
out, into the darkness, and drizzling rair
and the slush of melting snow, fghtin
fierce battle. All his pride and all hi