Year: 1873

1t can't be ! thought he would no
have her on the place an hour
How did Miss Wiudcr come here 4?
asked, as mother followed the out to the
door


Oh, she came up to Rochester with a
family from Vermont, and thea came
over here to bring me parcel from Alb
bey. SO, of course, asked her to sta7
aud make n visit. | had piece in the
loom which Jane Pratt had just drawn in
when she was taken sick, and nothing
would do but Mary must finish it, She
does beat all for weaving that ever saw
Then your father sprained his ankle. and
| wasn't very well, SO she stayed on and
don't know what | shall do when she
goes away. [ wish we could keep her al.
ways"


Father seems to like her. too = said |,
my heart cchoing the wish.


lie does. | never saw him take so to
any one. He said yesterday that if we
ever had a daughtsr.in law he hoped she
would be just like Mary


Well went after Penelope and
brought her home, and many pleasant
walk We had aiterward, along that same
lonesome cross.road. 1t was rather hard
work for me to learn to call her Mary


Yes. you used to scare me half to death
saying Pen = interrupted my mother. Il
had to tell father it was nickname Aunt
Abbey gave me. Oh. dear I'm afraid
we said and did good many things that
wouldn't bear examination. have al.
ways felt ashamed Of the whole perform.
ance.'


Marrying me included, l suppose.
Well, matters went on so for some weeks.
took hold Of the farm. work, and soon
got things into shape again. | went
down to Commencement and graduated,
and then came back to take hold Of the
harvesting. had quite made up my
mind by that time to be u farmer.


when the heit Of the harvest.work
and checse-making was over, Penelope
proposed to my mother that she should
draw in piece Of fine line, for which the
yarn was ready. When she came to ex.
anime the loom, she found the harness in
need Of repair, aud as making harness is
best done by two pair Of fhands, she asked
me to help her.


Il don't know what the harness is y
said !.


We'll, it is the system Of strings iu a
loom, by which the threads OF the warp
are alternately raised and depressed so
as to allow The passage of the shuttle.
These strings are knotted in peculiar
and somewhat Intricate manner. We
were engaged in this process when my
father passed through the room.


That's right, Mary" said he 'liar.
ness him up tight!


She has done that already I! said I,
speaking without thought.


Mary looked scared.


so much the better y said my father.
Il hope you will both 60 as well in double
as you do in single harness So saying,
he went into the next room and shut tho
door.


II wonder whether my father sus-
poets opythipg? said |. Mary looked
very grave, and l had to repeat the ques
ton before she answered.


II don't know, Abner: | shall not
go N in this way any longer. 1t is a
shame to deceive him and your mother
as we are doing. | have felt uneasy this
long time, and now have made up nv
mind shall tell him the truth this very
day


And suppose he orders you out of
the house = said |.


Then must go


Aud forbid me ever to see Or speak
to you again.


Then we must wait. Anyhow. Ah.
ner, wc never can expect or pray for
blessing while we 20 on in this way


well. We argued the matter hack aud
forth. did not feel easy myself, Tor
was brought up to think lie the mean.
est of all things. Finally it was agreed
that We should explain matters that very
evening, only | insisted on taking the
task on myself.


80 We did. After prayers that night,
| told father and mother that Mary aud
| were engaged, and only waited for their
consent.


'All right! ! answered my father.
Il couldn't wish for better daughter
than Mary, and I'm sure mother will say
the same''


''Yes, indeed " said mother, wiping
her eyes. Il have hoped all along that
it would he So


Mary was now very pale, but che
spoke out quite clear and steadily:


I'm afraid yeu won't say so when
you know all about it, Uncle Nathan =


Mother started at these words and
turned as pale as Mary herself, but faith
er only said quietly-'Why not 2


Mary went on, and told the story in
as few words as possible. When she had
finished there was silence | kc death for
minute or two. literally dared not
look at either father or mother. Present.
ly my father spoke:


MARY aud Abner-do you think that
your father is so blind that he cannot see
a hole through ladder?


Neither OF us answered, but there Was
something in his tone which seemed to
lift weight off my heart Father went
on:


~ began to guess the secret before
Mary had been in the house three days,
and then an accident made me certain.
happered to want some papers which
had put in the cupboard in Mary's room.
She was out with mother. When
opened the cupboard, the first thing | saw
was little Latin biole. knew it in
minute, even without the writing on the
Ay'leaf 1t was one | had given to Alb
ner on the very last birthday we spent
together. I'm not good at describing my
feelings said my futher, in n trembling
voice but as opened the book it