Year: 1872

came wanderer on the face


OF the earth. taking no pleasure il


anything, leading feverish. heart-sicl


existence. One day Frightening up al


something like a clue to the where.


abouts of his impetuous young wife


the next, ready to die of despair when


he found himself further than evel


from attaining his object.


He knew how the poor girl had suf.


fered when she was waiting for him to


come sa


AS months and years passed on, he
gave up all hope of ever havinga home
again, anl directed his agent to sell
the house at Lakeside, which, shut up
and deserted all this time, had acquired
among the country people the name Of
the Lone House. Great was the curl
oslty to know who would live in the
gloomy old place, for it wore such a des-
olate, melancholy air that the few
strangers who were tempted to climb
the hill to look at it were glad enough


to go back into the sunny country road
and go on their way.


One day the new owner arrived, and
that was the event that stirred up the
village of Lakeside The present pro-
pr1etor was a widow, for she was dress
ed In deep mourning. She was follow
ed py two negro servants, one of whom
carried IN her arms a beautiful child,


apparently some two or three years old


Inc little household lived in the strict
est retirement, the lady neither MAX
ing nor received visits. The servants
were mutes, so the village curiosity re-
manned ungratifed. On bright morn
lngs the lady, accompanied by a SER
want with her little boy, would walk
out, always dropping her heavy veil
over her face if she chanced to meet
any one in her rambles, so that even
those who had passed her quite close
| ly could not tell whether she was old
or young, good locking or plain. Even
in the village church she never raised
the thick veil, and although she ap-
peared to be devoted Christian her.
self, [ am afraid she made sad sinners
of the greater part of the congregation,
who certainly paid more attention to
her than the sermon.


The curiosity had somewhat abated,
when 1t was again aroused, and again
by an arrival. But this time the OBJ
| Ject OF interest was an invalid gentle
man, who came to reside in a small
two-roomed cottage or lodge lately
| erected on small knoll not hundred
yards from the "Lone House" The
sweet country air brought health and
strength to the newcomer, and soon
he was able to take long walks, with his
only companion, an immense New
foundland dog. He made no acGuain-
| tances, and indeed would go far out OF
his way to avoid meeting any one in his
strolls. Now, as you may imagine,
these two people were the innocent
| cause of great deal of gossip, and
Mrs. Grundy, who lived on the east
side of the lake, whence she had view
OF both houses, with all their lncom-
lngs and outgolngs, was quite envied
by her less fortunate neighbors, who
possessed no such advantage One
morning, instead of the usual party
from the clone House." the child,
accompanied by one of the mute SER
wants, went out for an airing. Their
way lay along the lake side, and they
soon came upon the gentleman from
the lodge, who was amusing himself by
sending Carlo out into the water for a
stick which he threw in. The child
watched the sport with the creates de-
light, clapplng his chubby hands with
glee as the dog came swimming back
with his prize, till venturing step too
near the brink, his little foot slipped.
and he fell, the golden curls vanishing
beneath the old blue waters of the
lake. But not for long; for as he rose
to the surface the noble dog fastened
tn tho l., L


frock, and held him, all dripping, out
out OF the water till relieved by his
master of his precious burden.


The poor little fellow was more
frightened than hurt, and he was soon
IN the nurses arms-but he cried so
pltlful for his mamma that even Car
10, who wagged his tail nearly off in
his efforts to congratulate him, could
not pacify him. The boy was soon
made glad, and his mother pressed her
darling to her heart, and mother-like,
alternately scolded and petted, hug
ged and kissed him to her hearts con-
tent.


Next morning mother and child start
eo for their accustomed walk, and met
their nelghbor coming to inquire about
the boy. The lady thanked the child's
preserver, as she would call him again
and again, but he laughingly said she
must confer that title upon Carlo. as
that noble animal had been the hero
OF that occasion. The fond mother
SAID few grateful words, but her
melod1ous voice vibrated through him
she addressed like strain of half-for-
gotten music, awakening the memories
OF happier years. The child, mean
while, had been making friends with
Carlo, who graciously allowed the little
one to put both fat arms around the
shaggy neck, and to press the little ro-
sy cheek against the honest black face,
and call him ''dood Tarlo." All this
occupied but few moments, and then
both went on their way.


The nelghbors often met after this.
and 'snot by accident, either" Mrs.
Grundy said, adding that he would
wait till the party from the hill were
out OF sight and "then he would go by
some other road and manage to over.
take or meet them just by chance, of
course then all would walk home to-
gether IN the twilight" All this time
the lady never permitted the new
o. iJoO VI IS1 16iCt, GA
cept such shadowY outlines as could be
seen through a heavy veil of double
Grape; but a milk white hand, with
delicate taper fingers, stray tress of
lustrous golden hair, or a wee little
shapely foot, creeping mouse-like in
and out from beneath the folds Of the
black dress, together with the melody
of her voice and the mystery that sur
rounded her, fairly bewitched our So
cial friend, who had given up all the |
Joys of the world, human society, for
lodge in the wilderness and the COM
panionship of Carlo, and he actually
made the lovely widow an offer of his
heart. Of course the proposal being
SO unexpected, that angelic creature de-
clined to put her admirer out of his /
misery at once, and asked time to make
up her mind. She told him, also, that
she had made a VOW never to marry,
and added, consistently, that if she
did, her intended husband should not
see her face till after the ceremony,