Year: 1873

hand, which lay within his reach half ca
ressingly. Robert Bowles, the only man
she ever loved, was killed suddenly while
on horseback one day a month before their
marriage. She mourned for him as a wife
should, and finally called herself by his
name among us here, though out in the
world she is simply Jane Denham."


"PCor Janet"


And tender-bearted Dorothy went that
night and cried softly onihe housekeepers
pillow as she slept, smoothing out the lint
white locks-white long before they should
have been, in the natural course of things
shrinking of how she should have died in
such case at once.


James buoyant spirit had indeed been
quite killed she was never TO be the same,
and we cannot die when we wish, and we
must go ON for our allotted time, drinking
tea and wearing cotton gowns, as she would
say.


"She had fallen into way of looking for
trouble belorehand-after the manner of
many good people, walking on blindly
over the clover and primroses of life,
searching out thstles and wormwood,
growing oit-times in out of the way places.


The idea of mistress at the Crofts was
one which had on very many occasions
wofully disturbed Jane, and brought her
great number of Gorebodings and apprc-
tensions. She was willing aud ready to go
back TO the untenanted house at Stonesbo-
ro any day she had been born there; all
the Denhams for great many years had
dice there, and it was the proper thing that
she should follow their respectable exam
pie. No; Mrs. Bowles, out of the bounty
of the Lorlords, with whom she had passed
the greater part of her life, enjoyed little
competency which would save her from de-
pendence and time it was not for herself
she felt dread of The change she foresaw;
there was Dorothy.


1t was high time Dorothy thought of Sc
curing home for herself. She would new
er stand the ways of such woman as Mar
tin Lorford would fancy-never!


Thinking of this, and making a dreadful
deal out of very little, Jane went into the
library with her yarn and gray stockings
to get at the truth, or to force Martin TO say
in what way he meant to dispose of his
ward, as of course, no one could doubt his
right, Save, perhaps, Dolly herself, who
was headstrong enough, but who seemed
to have.very little thought as to her future.


Mrs. Bowles had spoken strongly in fa-
vor of the richest man in the country round,
the more aptly because he had dined at the
"CroIs" quite by accidenD very often of
late, and appeared greatly impressed with
Miss Lyme, who played the hostess charm
ingly.


"Hram Biddeiord was not SO old as some
men, and as keen as a briar in some things,
and Dorothy knew nothing of men, except
what she had read in books, and of course
that was all stuff and nonsense


"a fine match for her, truly;'' and Mar
tin looked out over the tops of the inter-
vening trees, at the imposing gables and
red chimneys of the smart brick house Hi
ram Biddeford had put up on the handsom-
est site for.miles around. Life was an un-
certain affair with the stoutest, the most
rugged; and rejecting on the alarming
symptoms which overpowered him al
times, Doly's guardian thought very seri-
ously about providing Dolly with a good
home.


There was no .irl anywhere-in all the
world-for that matter, who deserved be-
ter things than Dorothy. She was young
and beautiful and why should she not look
up, and although Lawyer Biddeford was
not just the sort of man Martin would have
chosen, yet he felt that he could trust him
to do right by her.


And when he had arrivedat this satisfac-
tory conclusion he felt as if hand had TAX
en- hold of his heart and given it strong
wrench inside his bosom, and he very near
ly hated the owner of the red brick house
across his own velvety lowlands.


But this was selfish. He would not give
way to that desire stronger than his wish
for life, to keep Dorothy in that lonely
house, to bear him company, and, perhaps,
close his eyes at last.


| If only Dorothy might like Bddeford.
That would make it easier he thought-or
tried to think.


Perhaps Mrs. Bowles WAS right; women
know more of each other in such matters,
and she had no doubt studied this ones ma
ture too well 10 be mistaken, and she had
very often expressed it, that Dorothy was a
girl with no real deep feeling for any one
except herself, and quite in love with an
easy life, which means fine things to wear
and the best to cat and drink.


"And woman may even learn to love a
man who will provide her these things and
love her moderately we'll"


And so Dorothy's suitor had been encour-
aged by the two most interested in her, and
| DO, 4
for his suit.


The day came when he was to gain Doro-
thys consent; he had already asked her
guardian.


Martin stood within the folds of his Grim
son curtains, looking after the man he en-
We'd more than all other men in the world,
and saw him ride away without a back ward
glance, but with conscious pride, and a
sense of his victory.


At least, so it seemed TO Lorford, who
hid his face in his hands and groahed aloud.


A black cloud suddenly obscured the sun,
a deep, ugly shadow lay on the golden
meadow, and the gloomy pines outside, and
a denser one on Martin Lorford, who real
lied everything in one moment. The rev.
elation came too late to effect him any good
He had been all his life dreamer, and an
idler, permitting other men to bear or the
prizes while he looked on.


step broke tho stiffness, and a light
dress rusted over the floor. Dorothy had
come in to ask his blessing.


Could he trust himself?


He turned with strange smile, his lips
dry, and the hand he held out burning hot


And now my Dolly is quito happy,
hope. know all about ii, dear. Hiram
Biddeford asked me for you months ago.