Year: 1870

ful village about forty miles from we'll
known city. She longed for fresh air
and quiet scenes, and doubtless she would
have found all the happiness which she
sought had not the place been haunted
by that terrible spectre-scandal.


Have you seen the new arrival ?"
asked Mrs. Thomas of her neighbor, Mrs.
Lawrence, about week after the stran
ger took possession of Maple Cottage
as the little place she had purchased was
called.


A curl of: the lip and shrug of the
shoulders was all the reply made by Mrs.
Lawrence; but: in the gestures Mrs.
Thomas saw or supposed she saw a suf.
ficient reason for stunning the acquain-
tahce of the stranger.


Mrs. Thomas who was very iealousand
and suspicious, translated this sign lam
guage in her own way. al have no
doubt" she said to her husband at night,
that she had bad reputation in the
city. She has come here dressed in deep
mourning, but who's knows whether she
ever had a husband And, if she had,
her wearing black is no sign he's dead,
in my opinion


The next day quite crowd had gath
cred in the store of Mr.. Thomas, waiting
for the arrival of the daily mail, which
was due about this hour. The stranger
came in to make some triaing purchases,
and was stared at by the people, as
strangers alwaye are. After she left the
store, some remarks were made concern
ing her lady like appearance. Mr..
Thomas Immediately rejoined. Yes,
she appears enough like lady, but my
wife thinks her reputation none the best. +"


Customers coming in. nothing more
was said at that time, but the fire of scan
dal was kindled-the story spread rapid
ly, each one telling it his own way, until
there was not family in the place but
had heard and believed the rumor.


Weeks passed on, and the inmate of
Maple Cottage felt that for some reason
she was looked upon with much suspi-
cion and dislike. There was no hospi-
tality, nothing said or done for which
she could demand an explanation.
Every day seemed to increase the
avoidance of her neighbors and she,
seeing this, ceased making .oyertures to-
wards an acquaintance with them, send
ing to the city for her household sup
plies, and never came in contact with
any of them save at church, and even
here she generally found whole seat at
her disposal.


AT last the storm which had so long
darkened the village horizon seemed
about to burst over her head. There
were low threats of driving her from the
place, and the mob spirit seemed to be
gathering strength.


About this time, some three months
after the stranger came to Maple Cottage,
a very handsome travelling carriage,
drawn by span of noble greys stopped
in front of her dwelling, and fine look
ing man apparently about fifty years of
age, with his wife and two children, were
seen to alight and enter the house. All
the day and through the evening, there
was heard the sound of many voices,
mingled with the ripping laughter of
joyous hearts.


The next day was Sunday, but this
time the widow did not sit alone. Strange
looks and low, murmured words ran
through the congregation. and the min
lister seemed to share the surprise of the
audience, and looked and preached as
though under painful embarrassment.
He recognized in the stranger minister
whose reputation was world wide-no
other than the rich and distinguished
President of--College, from which
he was graduate.


Professor C. remembered his former
pupil, but it must be confessed he was
both surprised and disappointed. He
had given the young man credit for in
dividual talent, but this sermon was
mere repetition of platitudes and truck
ling to public opinion, which showed
weak and little mind.


After service the President stopped a
moment until the preacher came forward,
and when the greetings were over he said
kindly: "My sister wrote me that Rich.
ard Forbes was preaching here, but l did
not connect the name with the memory
of my former pupil"


Your sister said the embarrassed
young man. You do not mean to say
that the woman with whom you entered
church is your sister ?"


"And why not?" 1t was now Prefer
sor Cs turn to look surprised.


Sure enough why not? What did he
know against the woman of whom all