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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner Folks
+by Charles Felton Pidgin
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner Folks
+       A Picture of New England Home Life
+
+Author: Charles Felton Pidgin
+
+Release Date: August 2, 2005 [EBook #16414]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER AND ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sigal Alon and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+QUINCY
+ADAMS
+SAWYER
+
+AND
+
+MASON'S CORNER FOLKS
+
+
+
+A PICTURE OF NEW
+ENGLAND HOME LIFE
+
+BY
+
+CHAS. FELTON PIDGIN
+
+
+Boston
+C.M. CLARK
+PUBLISHING COMPANY
+1905
+
+
+
+
+REVISED
+EDITION
+
+
+
+Respectfully dedicated to
+the Memory of the late
+HON JAMES
+RUSSELL LOWELL
+the perusal of whose
+famous poem
+"THE COURTIN"
+supplied the inspiration
+that led to the writing
+of this book.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER'S only title was plain "Mr." His ancestors were
+tradesmen, merchants, lawyers, politicians, and Presidents. He, too, was
+proud of his honored ancestry, and I have endeavored in this book to
+have him live up to an ideal personification of gentlemanly qualities
+for which the New England standard should be fully as high as that of
+Old England; in fact, I see no reason why the heroes of American novels,
+barring the single matter of hereditary titles, should not compare
+favorably as regards gentlemanly attributes with their English cousins
+across the seas.                                             C.F.P.
+
+GRAY CHAMBERS,
+BOSTON, October, 1902.
+
+
+
+
+
+         CHAPTERS
+
+      I. The Rehearsal
+
+     II. Mason's Corner Folks
+
+    III. The Concert in the Town Hall
+
+     IV. Ancestry _versus_ Patriotism
+
+      V. Mr. Sawyer Meets Uncle Ike
+
+     VI. Some New Ideas
+
+    VII. "That City Feller"
+
+   VIII. City Skill _versus_ Country Muscle
+
+     IX. Mr. Sawyer Calls on Miss Putnam
+
+      X. Village Gossip
+
+     XI. Some Sad Tidings
+
+    XII. Looking for a Boarding Place
+
+   XIII. A Visit to the Victim
+
+    XIV. A Quiet Evening
+
+     XV. A Long Lost Relative
+
+    XVI. A Promise Kept
+
+   XVII. An Informal Introduction
+
+  XVIII. The Courtin'
+
+    XIX. Jim Sawyer's Funeral
+
+     XX. A Wet Day
+
+    XXI. Some More New Ideas
+
+   XXII. After the Great Snowstorm
+
+  XXIII. A Visit to Mrs. Putnam
+
+   XXIV. The New Doctor
+
+    XXV. Some Plain Facts and Inferences
+
+   XXVI. The Surprise Party
+
+  XXVII. Town Politics
+
+ XXVIII. The Town Meeting
+
+   XXIX. Mrs.  Hawkins's Boarding House
+
+    XXX. A Settlement
+
+   XXXI. An Inheritance
+
+  XXXII. Aunt Ella
+
+ XXXIII. The Weddin's
+
+  XXXIV. Blennerhassett
+
+   XXXV. "The Bird of Love"
+
+  XXXVI. Then They Were Married
+
+ XXXVII. Linda's Birthright
+
+XXXVIII. Fernborough
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+_Frontispiece_.--"The village gossips wondered
+                      who he was, what
+                      he was, what he came for,
+                      and how long he intended
+                      to stay."
+
+It was a marvellous rig that he wore when he reappeared
+
+The barge led the procession to Mason's Corner
+
+And then he landed a blow on Wood's nose
+
+"The Deacon and his wife led off"
+
+
+CHARACTERS AND SCENES FROM THE STAGE PRESENTATION OF QUINCY ADAMS
+SAWYER.
+
+Mandy Skinner
+
+Samanthy Green
+
+Mrs. Putnam's anger, upon discovery of Lindy's parentage (Act III.)
+
+Quincy reading Alice's letter to her (Act III.)
+
+An old-fashioned husking bee (Act III.)
+
+Alice recovers her sight (Act IV.)
+
+
+
+
+QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE REHEARSAL.
+
+
+It was a little after seven o'clock on the evening of December 31,
+186--. Inside, the little red schoolhouse was ablaze with light. Sounds
+of voices and laughter came from within and forms could be seen flitting
+back and forth through the uncurtained windows. Outside, a heavy fall of
+snow lay upon hill and vale, trees and house-tops, while the rays of a
+full-orbed moon shone down upon the glistening, white expanse.
+
+At a point upon the main road a short distance beyond the square, where
+the grocery store was situated, stood a young man. This young man was
+Ezekiel Pettengill, one of the well-to-do young farmers of the village.
+His coat collar was turned up and his cap pulled down over his ears, for
+the air was piercing cold and a biting wind was blowing. Now and then he
+would walk briskly back and forth for a few minutes, clapping his hands,
+which were encased in gray woollen mittens, in order to restore some
+warmth to those almost frozen members. As he walked back and forth, he
+said several times, half aloud to himself, "I don't b'lieve she's comin'
+anyway. I s'pose she's goin' to stay ter hum and spend the evenin' with
+him." Finally he resumed his old position near the corner and assumed
+his previous expectant attitude.
+
+As he looked down the road, a man came out of Mrs. Hawkins's boarding
+house, crossed the road and walked swiftly towards him.
+
+As the new-comer neared him, he called out, "Hello, Pettengill! is that
+you? Confounded cold, ain't it? Who wuz yer waitin' for? Been up to the
+schoolhouse yet?"
+
+To these inquiries 'Zekiel responded: "No!" and added, "I saw yer comin'
+out of the house and thought I'd walk up with yer."
+
+"Wall! they can't do nuthin' till I git thar," said Mr. Obadiah Strout,
+the singing-master, "so we shall both be on time. By the way," he
+continued, "I was up to Boston to-day to git some things I wanted for
+the concert to-morrer night, and the minister asked me to buy some new
+music books for the church choir, and I'm goin' up there fust to take
+'em;" and 'Zekiel's attention was attracted to a package that Mr. Strout
+held under his arm. "Say, Pettengill!" continued Mr. Strout, "when yet
+git up ter the schoolhouse, tell them I'll be along in a few minutes;"
+and he started off, apparently forgetful of 'Zekiel's declaration that
+he had intended to walk up with him.
+
+It is evident that 'Zekiel's statement was untruthful, for his words
+have betrayed the fact that it was not the Professor of whom he had been
+thinking.
+
+'Zekiel did not move from his position until he had seen Strout turn
+into the yard that led to the front door of the minister's house. Then
+he said to himself again, "I don't believe she's comin', arter all."
+
+As he spoke the words a deep, heavy sigh came from his great, honest
+heart, heard only by the leaflless trees through which the winter wind
+moaned as if in sympathy.
+
+What was going on in the little red schoolhouse? The occasion was the
+last rehearsal of the Eastborough Singing Society, which had been
+studying vocal music assiduously for the last three months under the
+direction of Professor Obadiah Strout, and was to give its annual
+conceit the following evening at the Town Hall at Eastborough.
+
+A modest sum had been raised by subscription. A big barge had been hired
+in Cottonton, and after the rehearsal there was to be a sleigh ride to
+Eastborough Centre and return. It was evident from the clamor and
+confusion that the minds of those present were more intent upon the ride
+than the rehearsal, and when one girl remarked that the Professor was
+late, another quickly replied that, "if he didn't come at all 'twould be
+early enough."
+
+There were about two score of young persons present, very nearly equally
+divided between the two sexes. Benjamin Bates was there and Robert Wood,
+Cobb's twins, Emmanuel Howe, and Samuel Hill. Among the girls were Lindy
+Putnam, the best dressed and richest girl in town, Mandy Skinner, Tilly
+James, who had more beaus than any other girl in the village; the Green
+sisters Samanthy and Betsy, and Miss Seraphina Cotton, the village
+schoolteacher.
+
+Evidently all the members of the society had not arrived, for constant
+inquiries were being made about Huldy Mason and 'Zekiel Pettengill. When
+Betsy Green asked Mandy Skinner if Hiram Maxwell wa'n't comin', the
+latter replied that he'd probably come up when Miss Huldy and the new
+boarder did.
+
+News had reached the assemblage that Arthur Scates, the best tenor
+singer in the society, was sick. Lindy Putnam was to sing a duet with
+him at the concert, and so she asked if anybody had been to see him.
+
+"I was up there this arternoon," said Ben Bates, "and he seemed powerful
+bad in the throat. Grandmother Scates tied an old stocking 'round his
+throat and gin him a bowl of catnip tea and he kinder thought he'd be
+all right to-morrer. I told him you'd have a conniption fit if he didn't
+show up, but Grandmother Scates shook her head kind o' doubtful and
+said, 'The Lord's will be done. What can't be cured must be endured;'
+and I guess that's about the way it will be."
+
+The outer door opened and 'Zekiel Pettengill entered. The creaking of
+the opening door attracted the attention of all. When the girls saw who
+it was, they ran and gathered about him, a dozen voices crying out,
+"Where is Huldy? We all thought she'd come with you."
+
+'Zekiel shook his head.
+
+"You don't know?" asked Tilly James, incredulously. 'Zekiel shook his
+head again. "Of course you do," said Tilly contemptuously.
+
+She turned away, followed by a number of the girls. "He knows well
+enough," she observed in an undertone, "but he won't tell. He's gone on
+Huldy, and when a feller's gone on a girl he's pretty sure to keep the
+run of her."
+
+In the meantime Lindy Putnam had been using her most persuasive powers
+of coaxing on 'Zekiel and with same success, for 'Zekiel told quite a
+long story, but with very little information in it. He told the crowd of
+girls gathered about him that he'd be twenty-eight on the third of
+January, and that ever since he was a little boy, which was, of course,
+before any of those present were born, he'd always followed the rule of
+not saying anything unless he knew what he was talking about.
+
+"Now," said 'Zekiel, feeling that it was better to talk on than to stand
+sheep-facedly before this crowd of eager, expectant faces, "I might tell
+yer that Huldy was ter hum and wasn't comin' up to-night, but yer see,
+p'r'aps she's on the road now and may pop in here any minute! Course you
+all know Deacon Mason's got a boarder, a young feller from the city.
+P'r'aps he'll come up with Huldy. But I heerd tell his health wa'n't
+very good and mebbe he went to bed right after supper."
+
+"What's he down here for anyway?" asked Tilly James.
+
+"Now you've got me," replied 'Zekiel. "I s'pose he had some purpose in
+view, but you see I ain't positive even of that. As I said before, I
+heerd he's come down here for his health. It's too late for rakin' hay,
+and as hard work's the best country doctor, p'r'aps he'll go to choppin'
+wood; but there's one point I feel kinder positive on."
+
+"What is it? What is it?" cried the girls, as they looked into his face
+inquiringly.
+
+"Wall, I think," drawled 'Zekiel, "that when he gits what he's come for,
+he'll be mighty apt to pull up stakes and go back to Boston."
+
+Again the outer door creaked upon its hinges, and again every face was
+turned to see who the new-comer might be.
+
+"Here she is," cried a dozen voices; and the owners thereof rushed
+forward to greet and embrace Miss Huldy Mason, the Deacon's daughter and
+the most popular girl in the village.
+
+'Zekiel turned and saw that she was alone. Evidently the city fellow had
+not come with her.
+
+Huldy was somewhat astonished at the warmth of her greeting, and was at
+a loss to understand the reason for it, until Lindy Putnam said:
+
+"Didn't he come with you?"
+
+"Who?" asked Huldy, with wide-open eyes.
+
+"Oh, you can't fool us," cried Tilly James. "'Zeke Pettengill told us
+all about that city feller that's boarding down to your house. We were
+just talking it over together, and he surmised that it might be the same
+one that you met down to your aunt's house, when you went to Boston last
+summer."
+
+"As Mr. Pettengill seems to know so much about my gentlemen friends, if
+you want any more information, no doubt he can supply it," said Huldy
+coldly.
+
+"'Zeke kinder thought," said Bob Wood, "that he might be tired, and
+probably went to bed right after supper."
+
+"Well, he didn't," said Huldy, now thoroughly excited, "he came with me,
+and he's outside now talking with Hiram about the barge."
+
+"Why don't he come in?" asked Bob Wood. "P'r'aps he's bashful."
+
+"If he didn't have no more common sense than you've got," retorted
+Huldy, "he'd have to go to bed as soon as he had eaten his supper."
+
+The laugh that followed this remark so incensed Wood that he answered
+coarsely, "I never saw one of those city chaps who knew B from a bull's
+foot."
+
+"Perhaps he'll teach you the difference some day," remarked Huldy,
+sarcastically.
+
+"Well, I guess not," said Wood with a sneer; "'less he can put two b's
+in able."
+
+Further altercation was stopped by the sudden entrance of Mr. Strout,
+who quickly ascended the platform and called the society to order. It
+must be acknowledged that the Professor had a good knowledge of music
+and thoroughly understood the very difficult art of directing a mixed
+chorus of uncultivated voices. With him enthusiasm was more important
+than a strict adherence to quavers and semiquavers, and what was lost in
+fine touches was more than made up in volume of tone.
+
+Again, the Professor paid strict attention to business at rehearsals,
+and the progress of the society in musical knowledge had been very
+marked. So it is not to be wondered at that the various numbers allotted
+to the chorus on the next evening's programme were gone through quickly
+and to the evident satisfaction of the leader.
+
+The last number to be taken up was an original composition, written and
+composed by the singing-master himself, and during its rehearsal his
+enthusiasm reached its highest pitch. At the conclusion of the chorus,
+which had been rendered with remarkable spirit, the Professor darted
+from one-end of the platform to the other, crying out, "Bravo! Fust
+rate! Do it again! That'll fetch 'em!"
+
+After several repetitions of the chorus, each one given with increasing
+spirit and volume, the Professor threw down his baton and said: "That'll
+do. You're excused until to-morrow night, seven o'clock sharp at
+Eastborough Town Hall. I guess the barge has just drove up and we'd
+better be gittin' ready for our sleigh ride."
+
+Miss Tilly James, who had acted as accompanist on the tin-panny old
+piano, was putting up her music. The Professor, with his face wreathed
+in smiles, walked up to her and said, "I tell you what, Miss James, that
+last composition of mine is bang up. One of these days, when the 'Star
+Spangled Banner,' 'Hail Columbia,' and 'Marching through Georgia' are
+laid upon the top shelf and all covered with dust, one hundred million
+American freemen will be singing Strout's great national anthem, 'Hark,
+and hear the Eagle Scream.' What do you think of that prophecy?"
+
+"I think," said Miss James, turning her pretty face towards him, her
+black eyes snapping with fun, "that if conceit was consumption, there'd
+be another little green grave in the cemetery with O. Strout on the
+headstone."
+
+The Professor never could take a joke. In his eye, jokes were always
+insults to be resented accordingly. Turning upon the young lady
+savagely, he retorted:
+
+"If sass was butter, your folks wouldn't have to keep any cows."
+
+Then he walked quickly across the room to where 'Zekiel Pettengill
+stood aloof from the rest, wrapped in some apparently not very pleasant
+thoughts.
+
+At this juncture Hiram Maxwell dashed into the schoolroom, and judging
+from appearances his thoughts were of the pleasantest possible
+description.
+
+"Say, fellers and girls," he cried, "I've got some news for yer, and
+when you hear it you'll think the day of judgment has come, and you're
+goin' to git your reward."
+
+An astonished "Oh!" came up from the assemblage.
+
+"Out with it," said Bob Wood, in his coarse, rough voice.
+
+"Well, fust," said Hiram, his face glowing with animation, "you know we
+got up a subscription to pay for the barge and made me treasurer, cuz I
+worked in a deacon's family. Wall, when I asked Bill Stalker to-night
+how much the bill would be, just to see if I'd got enough, he told me
+that a Mr. Sawyer, who said he 'boarded down to Deacon Mason's, had paid
+the hull bill and given him a dollar beside for hisself." Cheers and the
+clapping of hands showed that the city fellow's liberality was
+appreciated by a majority, at least, of the singing society. "When we
+git on the barge I'll pay yer back yer money, and the ride won't cost
+any one on us a durn cent. That ain't all. Mr. Sawyer jest told me
+hisself that when he was over to Eastborough Centre yesterday he ordered
+a hot supper for the whole caboodle, and it'll be ready for us when we
+git over to the Eagle Hotel. So come along and git your seats in the
+barge." A wild rush was made for the door, but Hiram backed against it
+and screamed at the top of his voice: "No two girls must sit close
+together. Fust a girl, then a feller, next a girl, then a feller, next a
+girl, then a feller, that's the rule."
+
+He opened the door and dashed out, followed by all the members of the
+society excepting the Professor and 'Zekiel, who were left alone in the
+room.
+
+"See that flock of sheep," said the Professor to 'Zekiel, with a strong
+touch of sarcasm in his tone. "That's what makes me so cussed mad.
+Brains and glorious achievement count for nothin' in this community. If
+a city swell comes along with a pocketful of money and just cries,
+'Baa,' over the fence they all go after him."
+
+"Hasn't it always been so?" asked 'Zekiel.
+
+"Not a bit of it," said Strout. "In the old days, kings and queens and
+princes used to search for modest merit, and when found they rewarded
+it. Nowadays modest merit has to holler and yell and screech to make
+folks look at it."
+
+Hiram again appeared in the room, beckoning to the two occupants.
+
+"Say, ain't you two comin' along?" he cried. "We've saved good places
+for yer."
+
+"Where's Mr. Sawyer?" asked 'Zekiel.
+
+"Oh, he's goin' along with the crowd," said Hiram; "he's got a seat in
+between Miss Putnam and Miss Mason, and looks as snug as a bug in a rug.
+There's a place for you, Mr. Pettengill, between Miss Mason and Mandy,
+and I comes in between Mandy and Mrs. Hawkins. Mandy wanted her mother
+to go cuz she works so confounded hard and gits out of doors so seldom,
+and there's a seat 'tween Mrs. Hawkins and Tilly James for the
+Professor, and Sam Hill's t'other side of Tilly and nex' to S'frina
+Cotton."
+
+"I guess I can't go," said 'Zekiel. "The house is all alone, and I'm
+kind of 'fraid thet thet last hoss I bought may get into trouble again
+as he did last night. So I guess I'd better go home and look arter
+things." Leaning over he whispered in Hiram's ear, "I reckon you'd
+better take the seat between Huldy and Mandy, you don't want ter
+separate a mother from her daughter, you know."
+
+"All right," said Hiram, with a knowing wink, "I'm satisfied to
+obleege."
+
+Hiram then turned to the Professor: "Ain't yer goin', Mr. Strout?"
+
+"When this sleigh ride was projected," said the Professor with dignity,
+"I s'posed it was to be for the members of the singin' class and not for
+boardin' mistresses and city loafers."
+
+"I guess it don't make much difference who goes," replied Hiram, "as
+long as we git a free ride and a free supper for nothing."
+
+"Present my compliments to Mr. Sawyer," said the Professor, "and tell
+him I've had my supper, and as I don't belong to a fire company, I don't
+care for crackers and cheese and coffee so late in the evenin'."
+
+"Oh, bosh!" cried Hiram, "it's goin' to be a turkey supper, with fried
+chicken and salery and cranberry juice, and each feller's to have a
+bottle of cider and each girl a bottle of ginger ale."
+
+A horn was heard outside, it being the signal for the starting of the
+barge. Without stopping to say good-by, Hiram rushed out of the room,
+secured his seat in the barge, and with loud cheers the merry party
+started off on their journey.
+
+The Professor extinguished the lights and accompanied by 'Zekiel left
+the building. He locked the door and hung the key in its accustomed
+place, for no one at Mason's Corner ever imagined that a thief could be
+so bad as to steal anything from a schoolhouse. And it was once argued
+in town meeting that if a tramp got into it and thus escaped freezing,
+that was better than to have the town pay for burying him.
+
+Both men walked along silently until they reached Mrs. Hawkins' boarding
+house; here the Professor stopped and bade 'Zekiel good night. After
+doing so he added:
+
+"Pettengill, you and me must jine agin the common enemy. This town ain't
+big enough to hold us and this destroyer of our happiness, and we must
+find some way of smokin' him out."
+
+The slumbers of both 'Zekiel and the Professor were broken when the
+jolly party returned home after midnight. 'Zekiel recalled Hiram's
+description of the arrangement of seats, and another deep sigh escaped
+him; but this time there were no leafless trees and winter wind to
+supply an echo.
+
+The Professor's half-awakened mind travelled in very different channels.
+He imagined himself engaged in several verbal disputes with a number of
+fisticuff encounters in which he invariably proved to be too much for
+the city fellow. Just before he sank again into a deep sleep he imagined
+that the entire population of Mason's Corner escorted a certain young
+man forcibly to the railroad station at Eastborough Centre and put him
+in charge of the expressman, to be delivered in Boston. And that young
+man, in the Professor's dream, had a tag tied to the lapel of his coat
+upon which was written, "Quincy Adams Sawyer."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+MASON'S CORNER FOLKS.
+
+
+In 186-- the town of Eastborough was located in the southeastern part of
+Massachusetts, in the county of Normouth. It was a large town, being
+fully five miles wide from east to west and from five to seven miles
+long, the northern and southern boundaries being very irregular.
+
+The town contained three villages; the western one being known as West
+Eastborough, the middle one as Eastborough Centre, and the easterly one
+as Mason's Corner. West Eastborough was exclusively a farming section,
+having no store or post office. As the extreme western boundary was only
+a mile and a half from Eastborough Centre, the farmers of the western
+section of the town were well accommodated at the Centre. The middle
+section contained the railroad station, at which five trains a day, each
+way, to and from Boston, made regular stops. The Centre contained the
+Town Hall, two churches, a hotel, and express office, a bank, newspaper
+office, and several general stores. Not very far from the hotel, on a
+side road, was the Almshouse, or Poorhouse, as it was always called by
+the citizens of Eastborough.
+
+Between the Centre and Mason's Corner was a long interval of three
+miles. The land bordering the lower and most direct route was, to a
+great extent, hilly and rocky, or full of sand and clay pits. The upper
+and longest road ran through a more fertile section. The village of
+Mason's Corner contained the best arable land in the town, and the
+village had increased in population and wealth much faster than the
+other sections of the town. To the east of the village of Mason's
+Corner lay the town of Montrose, and beyond that town was situated the
+thriving city of Cottonton, devoted largely, as its name indicated, to
+the textile manufacturing industries.
+
+The best known and most popular resident of Mason's Corner was Deacon
+Abraham Mason. He was a retired farmer on the shady side of fifty. He
+had married young and worked very hard, his labors being rewarded with
+pecuniary success. When a little over fifty, he gave up active farm work
+and devoted his time to buying and selling real estate, and to church
+and town affairs, in both of which he was greatly interested. His house
+stood about halfway down a somewhat steep hill, the road over which, at
+the top, made a sharp turn. It was this turn which had received the
+appellation of Mason's Corner and from which the village eventually had
+taken its name.
+
+Mrs. Sophia Mason, the Deacon's wife, was a little less than fifty years
+of age. She was a comely, bright-faced, bright-eyed, and energetic
+woman, who had been both a loving wife and a valued helpmeet to her
+husband. Their only living child was a daughter named Huldah Ann, about
+nineteen years of age, and considered by many to be the prettiest and
+smartest girl in Mason's Corner. The only other resident in Deacon
+Mason's house was Hiram Maxwell, a young man about thirty years of age.
+He had been a farm hand, but had enlisted in 1861, and served through
+the war. On his return home he was hired by Deacon Mason to do such
+chores as required a man's strength, for the Deacon's business took him
+away from home a great deal. Hiram was not exactly what would be called
+a pronounced stutterer or stammerer; but when he was excited or had a
+matter of more than ordinary importance to communicate, a sort of
+lingual paralysis seemed to overtake him and interfered materially with
+the vocal expression of his thoughts and ideas. Type would be inadequate
+to express the facial contortions and what might be termed the
+chromatic scales of vocal expression in which he often indulged, and
+they are, therefore, left for full comprehension to those of inventive
+and vivid imaginative powers. This fact should not be lost sight of in
+following the fortunes of this brave soldier, honest lover, good
+husband, and successful business man.
+
+The Pettengill homestead was situated on the other side of the road,
+southwest from Deacon Mason's house. Ezekiel's grandfather had left
+three sons, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the latter being Ezekiel's
+father. Abraham had died when he was a young man, and Jacob had been
+dead about five years. Uncle Ike was in his seventy-sixth year, and was
+Ezekiel's only living near relative, with the exception of his sister
+Alice, who had left home soon after her father's death and was now
+employed as bookkeeper in a large dry goods store in Boston.
+
+Ezekiel was about twenty-eight years of age, being seven years older
+than his sister. He was a hardy, strong-willed, self-reliant young
+fellow. He loved farming and had resolved to make a better living out of
+it than his father had ever done. A strong incentive to win success
+proceeded from the fact that he had long been in love with "Huldy Ann,"
+the Deacon's daughter, and he had every reason to believe that his
+affection was returned, although no formal engagement existed between
+them, and marriage had never been spoken of by them or the young lady's
+parents.
+
+Uncle Ike Pettengill had been a successful business man in Boston, but
+at the age of sixty had wearied of city life, and decided to spend the
+rest of his days in the country. Despite the objections of his wife and
+two grown up daughters, he sold out his business, conveyed two-thirds of
+his property to his wife and children, and invested the remaining third
+in an annuity, which gave him sufficient income for a comfortable
+support. He did not live at the Pettengill house, but in a little
+two-roomed cottage or cabin that he had had built for him on the lower
+road, about halfway between Mason's Corner and Eastborough Centre. A
+short distance beyond his little house, a crossroad, not very often
+used, connected the upper and lower roads. Uncle Ike had a fair-sized
+library, read magazines and weekly papers, but never looked at a daily
+newspaper. His only companions were about two hundred hens and chickens
+and a big St. Bernard dog which he had named "Swiss," after his native
+land.
+
+The other residents of the Pettengill homestead were two young men named
+Jim and Bill Cobb, who aided Ezekiel in his farm work, and Mandy
+Skinner, the "help," who was in reality the housekeeper of the
+establishment. Jim and Bill Cobb were orphans, Jim being about
+twenty-one and Bill three years older. When young they resembled each
+other very closely, for this reason they had been nicknamed "Cobb's
+Twins," and the name had clung to them, even after they had reached
+manhood.
+
+Mandy Skinner was about twenty-three, and was the only child of Malachi
+and Martha Skinner. Her father was dead, but her mother had married
+again and was now Mrs. Jonas Hawkins, the proprietor of Mrs. Hawkins's
+boarding house, which was situated in the square opposite Hill's
+grocery, and about a quarter of a mile from the top of Mason's Hill.
+Mandy had a double burden upon her shoulders. One was the care of such a
+large house and family, and the other was the constant necessity of
+repelling the lover-like hints and suggestions of Hiram Maxwell, who was
+always ready and willing to overlook his work at Deacon Mason's so that
+he could run down and see if Mandy wanted him to do anything for her.
+
+Hill's grocery was owned and carried on by Benoni Hill and his son
+Samuel. Their residence was on the easterly edge of the town, being next
+to the one occupied by old Ben James, who was a widower with one
+daughter, Miss Matilda James.
+
+About a quarter of a mile east of Hill's grocery was the village church,
+presided over by the Rev. Caleb Howe. He had one son, Emmanuel, who had
+graduated at Harvard and had intended to fit for the ministry, but his
+health had failed him and he had temporarily abandoned his studies. He
+was a great admirer of Miss Lindy Putnam, because, as he said, she was
+so pretty and accomplished. But after long debate one evening at the
+grocery store, it had been decided without a dissenting vote that "the
+minister's son was a lazy 'good-for-nothing', and that he wanted the
+money more than he did the gal." The village schoolhouse stood a short
+distance eastward from the church. The teacher, Miss Seraphina Cotton, a
+maiden lady of uncertain age, who boasted that the city of Cottonton was
+named after her grandfather, boarded at the Rev. Mr. Howe's, and was
+ardently attached to the minister's wife, who was an invalid and rarely
+seen outside of her home.
+
+On the upper road, about half a mile to the west of Deacon Mason's,
+lived Mr. and Mrs. Silas Putnam. They owned the largest house and best
+farm at Mason's Corner. They were reputed to be quite wealthy and it was
+known for a sure fact that their only daughter, Lindy, was worth one
+hundred thousand dollars in her own right, it having been left to her by
+her only brother, J. Jones Putnam, who had died in Boston about five
+years before.
+
+Mrs. Hawkins had a large house, but it was always full of boarders, all
+of the masculine gender. Mrs. Hawkins had declared on several occasions
+that she'd "sooner have the itch than a girl boarder." She was a
+hard-working woman and had but one assistant, a young girl named Betsy
+Green, one of whose sisters was "working-out" up at Mrs. Putnam's. Mrs.
+Hawkins's husband, his wife declared, was "no account nohow," and for
+the present her estimate of him must be accepted without question.
+
+Among Mrs. Hawkins's twelve boarders were Robert Wood and Benjamin
+Bates, two young men who were natives of Montrose. Bates was a brick and
+stone mason, and Wood was a carpenter, and they had been quite busily
+employed during the two years they had lived at Mason's Corner.
+
+Mrs. Hawkins owned a buggy and carryall and a couple of fairly good
+horses. They were cared for by Abner Stiles. He was often called upon to
+carry passengers over to the railway station at the Centre, and was the
+mail carrier between the Centre and Mason's Corner, for the latter
+village had a post office, which was located in Hill's grocery, Mr.
+Benoni Hill being the postmaster.
+
+Since his return from the war Mr. Obadiah Strout had been Mrs. Hawkins's
+star boarder. He sat at the head of the table and acted as moderator
+during the wordy discussions which accompanied every meal. Abner Stiles
+believed implicitly in the manifest superiority of Obadiah Strout over
+the other residents of Mason's Corner. He was his firm ally and
+henchman, serving him as a dog does his master, not for pay, but because
+he loves the service.
+
+Mr. Strout was often called the "Professor" because he was the
+singing-master of the village and gave lessons in instrumental and vocal
+music. The love of music was another bond of union between Strout and
+Stiles, for the latter was a skilful, if not educated, performer on the
+violin.
+
+The Professor was about forty years of age, stout in person, with smooth
+shaven face and florid complexion. In Eastborough town matters he was a
+general factotum. He had been an undertaker's assistant and had worked
+for the superintendent of the Poorhouse. In due season and in turn he
+had been appointed to and had filled the positions of fence viewer, road
+inspector, hog reeve, pound keeper, and the year previous he had been
+chosen tax collector. Abner Stiles said that there "wasn't a better man
+in town for selectman and he knew he'd get there one of these days."
+
+To those residents of Mason's Corner whose names have been given, whose
+homes have been described and some whose personal peculiarities have
+been portrayed, must be added a late arrival. The new-comer whose advent
+in town during Christmas week had caused so much discussion at the
+rehearsal in the old red schoolhouse, and whose liberality in providing
+a hot supper with all the fixings for the sleighing party from Mason's
+Corner, when it arrived at the Eagle Hotel at Eastborough Centre, had
+won, at a bound, the hearts of the majority of the younger residents of
+Mason's Corner. The village gossips wondered who he was, what he was,
+what he came for, and how long he intended to stay. If these questions
+had been asked of him personally, he might have returned answers to the
+first three questions, but it would have been beyond his power to have
+answered the fourth inquiry at that time. But the sayings and doings of
+certain individuals, and a chain of circumstances not of his own
+creation and beyond his personal control, conspired to keep him there
+for a period of nearly four months. During that time certain things were
+said and done, certain people were met and certain events took place
+which changed the entire current of this young man's future life, which
+shows plainly that we are all creatures of circumstance and that a man's
+success or failure in life may often depend as much or even more upon
+his environment than upon himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE CONCERT IN THE TOWN HALL.
+
+
+It was the evening of New Year's day, 186--. The leading people, in fact
+nearly all the people of the three villages forming the town of
+Eastborough, were assembled in the Town Hall at Eastborough Centre. The
+evening was pleasant and this fact had contributed to draw together the
+largest audience ever assembled in that hall. Not only was every seat
+taken, but the aisles were also crowded, while many of the younger
+citizens had been lifted up to eligible positions in the wide window
+seats of the dozen great windows on three sides of the large hall.
+
+The large attendance was also due in part to the fact that a new and
+original musical composition by Mr. Strout, the singing-master, would be
+sung for the first time in public. Again, it had been whispered up at
+Hill's grocery at Mason's Corner that the young city fellow who was
+boarding at Deacon Mason's was going to be present, and this rumor led
+to a greatly increased attendance from that village.
+
+The audience was a typical one of such communities at that period;
+horny-handed farmers with long shaggy beards and unkempt hair, dressed
+in ill-fitting black suits; matronly looking farmers' wives in their
+Sunday best; rosy-cheeked daughters full of fun and vivacity and
+chattering like magpies; tall, lank, awkward, bashful sons, and
+red-haired, black-haired, and tow-headed urchins of both sexes, the
+latter awaiting the events of the evening with the wild anticipations
+that are usually called forth only by the advent of a circus.
+
+The members of the chorus were seated on the large platform, the girls
+being on the right and the fellows on the left. A loud hum of
+conversation arose from the audience and chorus, a constant turning over
+and rattling of programmes gave a cheerful and animated appearance to
+the scene. The centre door at the rear of the platform was opened and
+all eyes were turned in that direction, the chorus twisting their necks
+or turning half 'round in their seats.
+
+Professor Strout entered and was greeted with a loud burst of applause.
+He wore a dress suit that he had hired in Boston, and there was a large
+white rose in the lapel of his coat. He was accompanied by Miss Tilly
+James, the pianist, who wore a handsome wine-colored silk dress that had
+been made for the occasion by the best dressmaker in Cottonton. As she
+took her place at the piano and ran her fingers over the keys, she, too,
+came in for a liberal round of applause. Professor Strout bowed to the
+audience, then turning his back upon them, he stood with baton uplifted
+facing the chorus and waiting the advent of the town committee. Every
+eye in the audience was fixed upon the programme. It contained the
+information that the first number was an opening chorus entitled,
+"Welcome to the Town Committee," written and composed by Professor
+Obadiah Strout and sung for the first time with great success at the
+last annual concert.
+
+The door at the rear of the platform was opened again and Deacon Abraham
+Mason, the Rev. Caleb Howe, and Mr. Benoni Hill, the members of the town
+committee on singing school, entered. Deacon Mason was accompanied by
+Quincy Adams Sawyer, and all eyes were fastened on the couple as they
+took their seats at the right of the platform, the Rev. Mr. Howe and Mr.
+Hill being seated on the left.
+
+Quincy Adams Sawyer in appearance and dress was a marked contrast to the
+stout, hardy, and rugged young farmers of Eastborough. He had dark hair,
+dark eyes, and a small black mustache curled at the ends. His face was
+pallid, but there was a look of determination in the firmly set jaw,
+resolute mouth, and sharp eye. He wore a dark suit with Prince Albert
+coat. Upon one arm hung an overcoat of light-colored cloth. He wore
+light-brown kid gloves and in one hand carried a light-colored Kossuth
+hat.
+
+As soon as the committee and their guest had taken their seats,
+Professor Strout tapped upon his music stand with his baton and the
+members of the Eastborough Singing Society arose to their feet with that
+total disregard of uniformity and unanimity of motion that always
+characterizes a body of undrilled performers. Each girl was obliged to
+look at her own dress and that of her neighbor to see if they were all
+right, while each fellow felt it absolutely necessary to shuffle his
+feet, pull down his cuffs, pull up his collar, and arrange his necktie.
+Despite the confusion and individual preparations the chorus took the
+opening note promptly and sang the "Welcome to the Town Committee" with
+a spirit and precision which well merited the applause it received. The
+words were not printed on the programme, but they conveyed the idea that
+the members of the singing class were very much obliged to the town
+committee for hiring a singing-master and paying his salary. Also that
+the members of the chorus had studied hard to learn to sing and would do
+their best that evening as a return for the favors-bestowed upon them by
+the town.
+
+Professor Strout then advanced to the edge of the platform and called
+the attention of the audience to the second number upon the programme
+which read, "Address by Abraham Mason, Esq." Prof. Strout added that by
+special request Deacon Mason's remarks would relate to the subject of
+"Education." The Deacon drew a large red bandanna handkerchief from his
+pocket, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, blew his nose
+vigorously, and then advanced to the centre of the platform near the
+music stand.
+
+"I dote on eddikation," he began; "it makes the taxes high; I've lived
+in this town man and boy more'n fifty year and I never saw them anythin'
+but high." A general laugh greeted this remark. "But when I'm in town
+meetin' I allus votes an aye to make our schools as good as those found
+in neighborin' towns, and none of them are any too good. For my
+political actions I'm proud to give my grounds, for I never cast a vote
+that I was ashamed to give my reasons for." A burst of applause followed
+this declaration.
+
+"Years back when I was young, we had no modern notions. We had to be
+satisfied with the three R's, Readin', 'Ritin', and 'Rithmetic, and
+larnin' was dealt out in rather meagre potions, 'bout three months in
+the winter after the wood was cut, sawed and split, and piled up in the
+wood-shed. We allus had to work in the summer, make hay and fill the
+barn in, and not till winter come could get a speck of larnin,' and then
+it took most of our time to pile wood into the stove and settle our
+personal accounts with the teacher." An audible titter ran through the
+audience at this sally. "And yet when I was young, though this community
+was rather behind in letters, no people in the land could say they were
+our betters. But now the world is changed, we live without such
+grubbin', learn Latin, French, and Greek, how to walk Spanish, talk
+Dutch, draw picters, keep books, fizziology, and lots of other 'ologies
+and much piano drubbin'. Now what brought this about? I think I have a
+notion; you know the immergrants from about every country under the sun
+have piled across the ocean. They've done the diggin' and other rough
+work and we've thruv on their labor. I have some ready cash. Mr. Strout
+comes 'round and gets some of't every year, and likewise my neighbor
+has some put aside for a rainy day." Many of the audience who probably
+had nothing laid aside glanced at the well-to-do farmers who had the
+reputation of being well fixed as regards this world's goods. "Perhaps
+I'm doin' wrong, but I would like my darter to know as much as those
+that's likely to come arter. But if the world keeps on its progress so
+bewild'rin' and they put some more 'ologies into the schools together
+with cabinet organs and fife and drum, I'm afraid it will cost my darter
+more than it did me to eddikate her childrin."
+
+A storm of applause filled the hall when the Deacon concluded his
+remarks. As he resumed his chair, Quincy handed him a tumbler of water
+that he had poured from a pitcher that stood upon a table near the
+piano. This act of courtesy was seen and appreciated by the audience and
+a loud clapping of hands followed. At the commencement of the Deacon's
+speech, the Professor had left the platform, for it gave him an
+opportunity for an intended change of costume, for which time could be
+found at no other place on the programme. It was a marvellous rig that
+he wore when he reappeared. A pair of white duck pantaloons, stiffly
+starched, were strapped under a pair of substantial, well-greased,
+cowhide boots. The waistcoat was of bright-red cloth with brass buttons.
+The long-tailed blue broad-cloth coat was also supplied with big brass
+buttons. He wore a high linen dickey and a necktie made of a small silk
+American flag. On his head he had a cream-colored, woolly plug hat and
+carried in his hand a baton resembling a small barber's pole, having
+alternate stripes of red, white, and blue with gilded ends.
+
+[Illustration: IT WAS A MARVELLOUS RIG THAT HE WORE WHEN HE REAPPEARED.]
+
+The appearance of this apparition of Uncle Sam was received with cries,
+cheers, and loud clapping of hands. The Professor bowed repeatedly in
+response to this ovation, and it was a long time before he could make
+himself heard by the audience. At last he said in a loud voice:
+
+"The audience will find the words of number three printed on the last
+page of the programme, and young and old are respectfully invited to
+jine in the chorus."
+
+A fluttering of programmes followed and this is what the audience found
+on the last page, "Hark! and Hear the Eagle Scream, a new and original
+American national air written, composed, and sung for the first time in
+public by Professor Obadiah Strout, author of last season's great
+success, 'Welcome to the Town Committee,'"
+
+    I.
+
+        They say our wheat's by far the best;
+        Our Injun corn will bear the test;
+        Our butter, beef, and pork and cheese,
+        The furriner's appetite can please.
+        The beans and fishballs that we can
+        Will keep alive an Englishman;
+        While many things I can't relate
+        He must buy from us or emigrate.
+
+    CHORUS:
+
+        Raise your voices, swing the banners,
+        Pound the drums and bang pianners;
+        Blow the fife and shriek for freedom,
+        'Meriky is bound to lead 'em.
+        Emigrate! ye toiling millions!
+        Sile enuf for tens of billions!
+        Land of honey, buttermilk, cream;
+        Hark! and hear the eagle scream.
+
+
+    II.
+
+        In manufactures, too, we're some;
+        Take rubber shoes and chewing gum;
+        In cotton cloth, and woollen, too,
+        In time we shall outrival you;
+        Our ships with ev'ry wind and tide,
+        With England's own will sail beside,
+        In ev'ry port our flag unfurled,
+        When the Stars and Stripes will rule the world.
+
+    CHORUS:
+
+
+    III.
+
+        For gold and silver, man and woman,
+        For things that's raided, made, dug, or human,
+        'Meriky's the coming nation;
+        She's-bound to conquer all creation!
+        Per'aps you call this brag and bluster;
+        No, 'taint nuther, for we muster
+        The best of brain, the mighty dollar;
+        We'll lead on, let others foller.
+
+    CHORUS:
+
+Professor Strout sang the solo part of the song himself. The singing
+society and many of the audience joined in the chorus. Like many
+teachers of vocal music, the Professor had very little voice himself,
+but he knew how to make the best possible use of what he did possess.
+But the patriotic sentiment of the words, the eccentric make-up of the
+singer his comical contortions and odd grimaces, and what was really a
+bright, tuneful melody won a marked success for both song and singer.
+Encore followed encore. Like many more cultured audiences in large
+cities the one assembled in Eastborough Town Hall seemed to think that
+there was no limit to a free concert and that they were entitled to all
+they could get. But the Professor himself fixed the limit. When the song
+had been sung through three times he ran up the centre aisle of the
+platform and facing the audience, he directed the chorus, holding the
+variegated baton in one hand and swinging his woolly plug hat around
+his head with the other. At the close, amid screams, cheers, and
+clapping of hands, he turned upon his heel, dashed through the door and
+disappeared from sight.
+
+The next number upon the programme was a piano solo by Miss Tilly James.
+Nothing could have pleased her audience any better than the well-known
+strains of the ever popular "Maiden's Prayer." In response to an encore
+which Quincy originated, and dexterously led, Miss James played the
+overture to Rossini's "William Tell" without notes. A fact which was
+perceived by the few, but unnoticed by the many.
+
+At the close of these instrumental selections, the Professor reappeared
+in evening costume and again assumed the directorship of the concert.
+Robert Wood had a ponderous bass voice, which if not highly cultivated
+was highly effective, and he sang "Simon the Cellarer" to great
+acceptation. Next followed a number of selections sung without
+accompaniment by a male quartette composed of Cobb's twins, who were
+both tenors, Benjamin Bates, and Robert Wood. This feature was loudly
+applauded and one old farmer remarked to his neighbor, who was evidently
+deaf, in a loud voice that was heard all over the hall, "That's the kind
+of music that fetches me," which declaration was a signal for another
+encore.
+
+The singing society then sang a barcarolle, the words of the first line
+being, "Of the sea, our yacht is the pride." It went over the heads of
+most of the audience, but was greatly appreciated fey the limited few
+who were acquainted with the difficulties of accidentals, syncopations,
+and inverted musical phrases.
+
+According to the programme the next feature was to be a duet entitled
+"Over the Bridge," composed by Jewell and sung by Arthur Scates and Miss
+Lindy Putnam. The Professor stepped forward and waved his hand to quiet
+the somewhat noisy assemblage.
+
+"The next number will have to be omitted," he said, "because Mr. Scates
+is home sick abed. The doctor says he's got a bad case of quinsy," with
+a marked emphasis on the last word, which, however, failed to make a
+point. "In response to requests, one verse of 'Hark! and Hear the Eagle
+Scream' will be sung to take the place of the piece that's left out."
+
+While the Professor was addressing the audience, Quincy had whispered
+something in Deacon Mason's ear which caused the latter to smile and nod
+his head approvingly. Quincy arose and reached the Professor's side just
+as the latter finished speaking and turned towards the chorus. Quincy
+said something in a low tone to the Professor which caused Mr. Strout to
+shake his head in the negative in a most pronounced manner. Quincy spoke
+again and looked towards Miss Putnam, who was seated in the front row,
+and whose face wore a somewhat disappointed look.
+
+Again the Professor shook his head by way of negation and the words, "It
+can't be did," were distinctly audible to the majority of both singing
+society and audience, at the same time a look of contempt spread over
+the singing-master's face. Quincy perceived it and was nettled by it. He
+was not daunted, however, nor to be shaken from his purpose, so he said
+in a loud voice, which was heard in all parts of the hall: "I know the
+song, and will sing it if Miss Putnam and the audience are willing."
+
+With a smile upon her face, Miss Putnam nodded her acquiescence. All the
+townspeople had heard of Quincy's liberality in providing a hot supper
+for the sleighing party the night before, and cries of "Go ahead! Give
+him a chance! We want to hear him!" and "Don't disappoint Miss Putnam,"
+were heard from all parts of the hall. The Professor was obliged to give
+in. He sat down with a disgusted look upon his face, and from that
+moment war to the knife was declared between these champions of city and
+country civilization.
+
+Mr. Sawyer went to the piano, opened Miss James's copy of the music and
+placed it upon the music rack before her, saying a few words to her
+which caused her to smile. Quincy then approached Lindy, opened her
+music at the proper place and passed it to her. Next he took her hand
+and led her to the front of the platform. These little acts of courtesy
+and politeness, performed in an easy, graceful, and self-possessed
+manner, were seen by all and won a round of applause.
+
+The duet was beautifully sung. Quincy had a fine well-trained tenor
+voice, while Miss Putnam's mezzo-soprano was full and melodious and her
+rendition fully as artistic as that of her companion. One, two, three,
+four, five, six encores followed each other in quick succession, in
+spite of Professor Strout's endeavors to quell the applause and take up
+the next number. The ovation given earlier in the evening to Professor
+Strout was weak in comparison with that vouchsafed to Quincy and Lindy
+when they took their seats. In vain did the Professor strive to make
+himself heard. Audience and chorus seemed to be of one mind. The
+Professor, his face as red as a beet, turned to Ezekiel Pettengill and
+said:
+
+"That was a mighty impudent piece of business, don't you think so?"
+
+"They're both mighty fine singers," Ezekiel responded in a rather
+unsympathetic tone.
+
+Quincy realized that something must be done to satisfy the demands of
+the now thoroughly excited audience. Going to Miss James, he asked her a
+question in a low voice, in reply to which she nodded affirmatively. He
+next sought Miss Putnam and evidently asked her the same question,
+receiving a similar answer. Then he led her forward, and she sang the
+opening part of "Listen to the Mocking Bird." After they had sung the
+chorus it was repeated on the piano and Quincy electrified the audience
+by whistling it, introducing all the trills, staccatos, and roulades
+that he had heard so many times come from under Billy Morris's big
+mustache at the little Opera House on Washington Street, opposite Milk,
+run by the Morris Brothers, Johnny Pell, and Mr. Trowbridge, and when he
+finished there flashed through his mind a pleasant memory of Dr. Ordway
+and his Aeolians. An encore was responded to, but the tumult still
+continued. Turning to Ezekiel, Strout said:
+
+"Ain't it a cussed shame to spoil a first-class concert this way?"
+
+"He's a mighty fine whistler," replied Ezekiel in the same tone that he
+had used before.
+
+Finally to quiet their exuberance Quincy was obliged to say a few words,
+which were evidently what the audience was waiting for.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "the hour is getting late and there is
+another number on the programme. Miss Putnam is tired and I shall have
+to wet my whistle before I can use it again. I thank you for your kind
+indulgence and applause."
+
+This little speech pleased the audience. It was down to their level,
+with "no sign of stuckupativeness about it," as one country girl
+remarked to her chum. Quincy bowed, the audience laughed, and quiet was
+restored.
+
+The Professor had fidgeted, fumed, and fussed during Quincy's occupancy
+of the platform. He now arose with feelings impossible to express and
+took up his baton to lead the closing chorus. He brought it down with
+such a whack upon the music stand that it careened, tottered, and fell
+to the platform with a crash. Tilly James leaned over and whispered to
+Huldy Mason: "The Professor seems to have a bad attack of Quincy, too."
+And the two girls smothered their laughs in their handkerchiefs. If the
+singing society had not been so well acquainted with the closing chorus
+the Professor certainly would have thrown them out by his many mistakes
+in beating time. The piece was a "sleighride" song. The Professor forgot
+to give the signal for the ringing of the sleigh bells, but the members
+of the singing society did not, and their introduction, which was
+unexpected by the audience, to use a theatrical term, "brought down the
+house." The number was well rendered, despite the manifest defects in
+leadership. The concert came to a close.
+
+Deacon Mason and his wife, accompanied by their daughter, Huldy, and
+Rev. Mr. Howe, occupied a double sleigh, as did Hiram, Mandy, and Cobb's
+twins. Another double-seated conveyance contained Mr. and Mrs. Benoni
+Hill, their son, Samuel, and Miss Tilly James. Quincy also had
+accommodations for four in his sleigh, but its only occupants were Miss
+Putnam and himself. Abner Stiles sat on the front seat of another
+double-seated sleigh, while the Professor and Ezekiel were on the back
+one; the remainder of the Mason's Corner folks occupied the big barge
+which had been used for the sleigh ride the night before.
+
+The barge led the procession to Mason's Corner, followed by the vehicles
+previously mentioned and scores of others containing residents of
+Mason's Corner, whose names and faces are alike unknown. By a strange
+fatality, the sleigh containing the Professor and Ezekiel was the last
+in the line. Ezekiel was inwardly elated that Mr. Sawyer had gone home
+with Lindy instead of with Deacon Mason's party. Strout's bosom held no
+feelings of elation. He did not seem to care whether the concert was
+considered a success or not. He had but one thought in his mind, and
+that was the "daring impudence of that city feller." Turning to Ezekiel,
+he said:
+
+[Illustration: "THE BARGE LED THE PROCESSION TO MASON'S CORNER."]
+
+"I'll get even with that city chap the next time I meet him. As I said
+last night, Pettengill, this town ain't big enough to 'hold both on us
+and one on us has got to git."
+
+As he said this, he leaned back in the sleigh and puffed his cigar
+savagely while Ezekiel was wondering if Huldy was thinking half as much
+about him as he was about her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+ANCESTRY VERSUS PATRIOTISM.
+
+
+Four days had passed since the concert in the Town Hall at Eastborough.
+The events of that evening had been freely discussed in barn and
+workshop, at table and at the various stores in Eastborough and
+surrounding towns, for quite a number had been present who were not
+residents of the town. All interest in it had not, however, passed away
+as subsequent occurrences proved.
+
+It was the morning of the fifth of January. Benoni Hill, who ran the
+only grocery store at Mason's Corner, was behind his counter and with
+the aid of his only son, Samuel, was attending to the wants of several
+customers.
+
+While thus engaged, Miss Tilly James entered, and young Samuel Hill
+forgot to ask the customer on whom he had been waiting the usual
+question, "Anything else, ma'am?" so anxious was he to speak to and wait
+upon the pretty Miss James, whose bright eyes, dark curly hair, and
+witty remarks had attracted to her side more suitors than had fallen to
+the lot of any other young girl in the village. As yet she had evinced
+no especial liking for any particular one of the young men who flocked
+about her, and this fact had only served to increase their admiration
+for her and to spur them on to renewed efforts to win her favor.
+
+"Do you know, Miss James," said Samuel, "I can't get it out of my ears
+yet." As he said this, he leaned over the counter, and being a brave
+young man, looked straight into Miss James's smiling face.
+
+"If all home remedies have failed," said Tilly, "why don't you go to
+Boston and have a doctor examine them?"
+
+"What a joker you are!" remarked Samuel; "I believe you will crack a
+joke on the minister the day you are married."
+
+"It may be my last chance," rejoined Tilly. "Mother says the inside of a
+boiled onion put into the ear is good for some troubles; give me a pound
+of tea, Oolong and green mixed, same as we always have."
+
+As Samuel passed the neatly done up package to Miss James, he leaned
+across the counter again and said in a low voice, "You know what is in
+my ears, Miss James. How beautifully you played for Mr. Sawyer when he
+whistled 'Listen to the Mocking Bird.' I don't think I shall ever forget
+it."
+
+"Well, I don't know about the playing, Mr. Hill. I came near losing my
+place several times, because I wanted so much to hear him whistle."
+
+During this conversation Tilly and Samuel had been so preoccupied that
+they had not noticed the entrance of a new-comer and his approach
+towards them. Only one other customer, a little girl, was left in the
+store, and Mr. Hill, Sr., had gone down cellar to draw her a quart of
+molasses.
+
+As Tilly uttered the words, "I wanted so much to hear him whistle," she
+heard behind her in clear, melodious, flute-like notes, the opening
+measures of "Listen to the Mocking Bird." Turning quickly, she saw Mr.
+Sawyer standing beside her.
+
+"Why, how do you do, Mr. Sawyer? I am delighted to see you again," she
+said in that hearty, whole-souled way that was so captivating to her
+country admirers.
+
+"The delight is mutual," replied Quincy, raising his hat and bowing.
+
+Samuel Hill was evidently somewhat disturbed by the great friendliness
+of the greetings that he had just witnessed. This fact did not escape
+Tilly's quick eye, and turning to Mr. Sawyer she said:
+
+"Have you been introduced to my friend, Mr. Samuel Hill?"
+
+"I have not had that pleasure," replied Quincy. "This is my first visit
+to the store."
+
+"Then allow me," continued Tilly, "to present you to Mr. Samuel Hull and
+to Mr. Benoni Hill, his father, both valued friends of mine," and she
+added, as a roguish smile came into her face, "as they keep the only
+grocery store in the village, you will be obliged to buy what they have
+and pay them what they ask, unless you prefer a three-mile tramp to
+Eastborough Centre."
+
+"I hope you're enjoyin' your stay at Mason's Corner," said Mr. Benoni
+Hall, "though I don't s'pose you city folks find much to please yer in a
+country town, 'specially in the winter."
+
+"So far I have found two things that have pleased me very much," replied
+Quincy.
+
+"The milk and eggs, I suppose," remarked Tilly.
+
+"No," said Quincy, "I refer to Miss Lindy Putnam's fine singing and the
+beautiful playing of a young lady who is called Miss James."
+
+"I have heard," said Tilly, "that you city gentlemen are great
+flatterers. That is not the reason why I am obliged to leave you so
+suddenly, but the fact is the tea caddy ran low this morning and
+grandma's nerves will remain unstrung until she gets a cup of strong
+tea."
+
+With a graceful bow and a parting wave of the hand to the three
+gentlemen, the bright and popular young lady left the store.
+
+"Mr. Hill," said Quincy, addressing the elder gentleman, "I've smoked
+all the cigars that I brought from Boston, but Deacon Mason told me
+perhaps you had some that would suit me. I like a good-sized, strong
+cigar and one that burns freely."
+
+"Well," said Mr. Hill, "Professor Strout is the most partikler customer
+I have in cigars; he says he always smokes a pipe in the house, 'cause
+it don't hang round the room so long as cigar smoke does, but he likes a
+good cigar to smoke on the street or when he goes ridin'. I just had a
+new box come down for him last night. Perhaps some of them will satisfy
+yer till I can git jest the kind yer want."
+
+Mr. Hill took his claw-hammer and opening the box passed it to Quincy,
+who took one of the cigars and lighted it. As he did so he glanced at
+the brand and the names of the makers, and remarked, "This is a good
+cigar, I've smoked this brand before. What do you ask for them?"
+
+"I git ten cents straight, but as Mr. Strout always smokes up the whole
+box before he gits through, though he don't usually buy more than five
+at a time, I let him have 'em for nine cents apiece. There ain't much
+made on them, but yer see I have to obleege my customers."
+
+"You don't ask enough for them," said Quincy, throwing down a
+twenty-dollar bill. "They sell for fifteen cents, two for a quarter, in
+Boston."
+
+"How many will you have?" asked Mr. Hill, thinking that Boston must be a
+paradise for shopkeepers, when seven cents' profit could be made on a
+cigar that cost only eight cents.
+
+"I'll take the whole box," said Quincy. "Call it ten dollars, that's
+cheap enough. No matter about the discount." As he said this he took
+half a dozen cigars from the box and placed them in a silver-mounted,
+silk-embroidered cigar case. "Please do them up for me, Mr. Hill, and
+the next time Hiram Maxwell comes in he will take them down to Deacon
+Mason's for me."
+
+After much rummaging through till and pocketbook, Mr. Hill and his son
+found ten dollars in change, which was passed to Quincy. He stuffed the
+large wad of small bills and fractional currency into his overcoat
+pocket and sitting down on a pile of soap boxes drummed on the lower one
+with his boot heels and puffed his cigar with evident pleasure.
+
+While Quincy was thus pleasantly engaged, Professor Strout entered the
+store and walked briskly up to the counter. He did not see, or if he
+did, he did not notice, Quincy who kept his place upon the pile of soap
+boxes. Strout was followed by Abner Stiles, Robert Wood, and several
+other idlers, who had been standing on the store platform when the
+Professor arrived.
+
+"Did those cigars come down, Hill?" asked Strout in his usual pompous
+way.
+
+"Yes!" replied Mr. Hill, "but I guess you'll have to wait till I gut
+another box down."
+
+"What for?" asked Strout sharply. "Wa'n't it understood between us that
+them cigars was to be kept for me?"
+
+"That's so," acknowledged Mr. Hill, "but you see, when I told that
+gentleman on the soap box over yonder that you smoked them, he bought
+the whole box, paid me a cent more apiece than you do. A dollar's worth
+saving nowadays. He says they sell for fifteen cents, two for a quarter,
+up in Boston."
+
+"If he's so well posted on Boston prices," growled Strout, "why didn't
+he pay them instead of cheatin' you out of two dollars and a half? I
+consider it a very shabby trick, Mr. Hill. I shall buy my cigars at
+Eastborough Centre in the future. Perhaps you'll lose more than that
+dollar in the long run."
+
+"Perhaps the gentleman will let you have some of them," expostulated Mr.
+Hill, "till I can get another box."
+
+"All I can say is," said Strout in snappish tones, "if the man who
+bought them knew that you got them for me, he was no gentleman to take
+the whole box. What do yer say, Stiles?" he asked, turning to Abner,
+who had kept his eyes fixed on the placid Quincy since entering the
+store, though listening intently to what the Professor said.
+
+"Well, I kinder reckon I agree to what you say, Professor," drawled
+Abner, "unless the other side has got some sort of an explanation to
+make. 'Tain't quite fair to judge a man without a hearin'."
+
+"Allow me to offer you one of your favorite brand, Professor Strout,"
+said Quincy, jumping down from the soap boxes and extending his cigar
+case.
+
+"No! thank you!" said Strout, "I always buy a box at a time, the same as
+you do. Judging from the smell of the one you are smoking, I guess they
+made a mistake on that box and sent second quality. Give me a five-cent
+plug, Mr. Hill, if some gentleman hasn't bought out your whole stock. I
+fancy my pipe will have to do me till I get a chance to go over to
+Eastborough Centre."
+
+During this conversation Hiram Maxwell had come in to do an errand for
+Mrs. Mason, and several more platform idlers, having heard the
+Professor's loud words, also entered.
+
+Strout was angry. When in that condition he usually lost his head, which
+he did on this occasion. Turning to Quincy he said with a voice full of
+passion:
+
+"What's yer name, anyway? You've got so many of them I don't know which
+comes fust and which last. Is it Quincy or Adams or Sawyer? How in
+thunder did you get 'em all, anyway? I s'pose they tucked 'em on to you
+when you was a baby and you was too weak to kick at being so abused."
+
+At this sally a loud laugh arose from the crowd gathered in the store,
+and Abner Stiles, who was the Professor's henchman and man-of-all-work,
+cried out, "Fust blood for the Professor."
+
+Quincy faced the Professor with a pale face and spoke in clear, ringing
+tones, still holding his lighted cigar between the fingers of his right
+hand. When he spoke all listened intently.
+
+"Your memory has served you well, Mr. Strout. You have got my names
+correct and in the proper order, Quincy Adams Sawyer. I do not consider
+that any child could be abused by being obliged to wear such honored
+names as those given me by my parents. My mother was a Quincy, and that
+name is indissolubly connected with the history and glory of our common
+country. My father's mother was an Adams, a family that has given two
+Presidents to the United States. If your knowledge of history is as
+great as your memory for names you should be aware of these facts, but
+your ignorance of them will not affect the opinion of those knowing to
+them. My father, Nathaniel Adams Sawyer, has a world-wide reputation as
+a great constitutional lawyer, and I am proud to bear his name, combined
+with those of my illustrious ancestors. It is needless for me to add
+that I, too, am connected with the legal profession."
+
+Here Hiram Maxwell called out, "First round for Mr. Sawyer."
+
+"Shut up, you dough-head," cried Strout, his face purple with rage.
+Turning to Quincy he said in a choked voice, "My name is Obadiah Strout,
+no frills or folderols about it either. That was my father's name too,
+and he lived and died an honest man, in spite of it. He raised potatoes
+and one son, that was me. When the nation called for volunteers I went
+to war to save the money bags of such as you that stayed at home. It was
+such fellers as you that made money out of mouldy biscuits and rotten
+beef, shoddy clothin', and paper-soled boots. It was such fellers as
+your father that lent their money to the government and got big interest
+for it. They kept the war going as long as they could. What cared they
+for the blood of the poor soldier, as long as they could keep the
+profits and interest coming in? It wasn't the Quincys and the Adamses
+and the other fellers with big names that stayed at home and hollered
+who saved the country, but the rank and file that did the fightin', and
+I was one of them."
+
+As he said this the irascible Professor shook his fist in Quincy's face,
+to which a red flush mounted, dyeing cheek and brow.
+
+"That's the Lord's truth," said Abner Stiles. Then he called out in a
+loud voice, "Second round for the Professor. Now for the finish."
+
+But the finish did not come then. The settlement between these two
+lingual disputants did not come for many days. The reason for a sudden
+cessation of the wordy conflict was a shrill, feminine voice, which
+cried out from the store platform:
+
+"Hiram Maxwell, where are you? Mother's most out of patience waiting for
+you."
+
+"Good Lord!" cried Hiram, breaking through the crowd and rushing to the
+counter to make the long-deferred purchase. "I'm coming in a minute."
+
+"I think I had better see you home," remarked Huldy Mason, entering the
+store.
+
+As she advanced the crowd separated and moved backward, leaving her a
+dear path.
+
+"Why, how do you do, Mr. Sawyer?" said she in a pleasant voice and with
+a sweet smile, as she reached Quincy. "Won't you help me take Hiram
+home?"
+
+"I should be happy to be of service to you," replied Quincy.
+
+The professor turned his back toward Miss Mason and began talking in an
+animated manner to Abner Stiles, Bob Wood, and a few other ardent
+sympathizers who gathered about him.
+
+The rest of the crowd were evidently more interested in watching the
+pretty Miss Mason and the genteel Mr. Sawyer. When Hiram left the store
+with his purchases under one arm and Quincy's box of cigars under the
+other, he was closely followed by Quincy and Huldy, who were talking and
+laughing together. The crowd of loungers streamed out on the platform
+again to watch their departure. As Quincy and Huldy turned from the
+square into the road that led to the Deacon's house they met Ezekiel
+Pettengill. Huldy nodded gayly and Quincy raised his hat, but Ezekiel
+was not acquainted with city customs and did not return the salutation.
+A few moments later the Professor and Abner Stiles were relating to him
+the exciting occurrences of the last half hour.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+MR. SAWYER MEETS UNCLE IKE.
+
+
+Quincy Adams Sawyer had not come down to Mason's Corner with any idea of
+becoming a hermit. His father was a great lawyer and a very wealthy man.
+He had made Quincy a large allowance during his college days, and had
+doubled it when his only son entered his law office to complete his
+studies.
+
+Quincy had worked hard in two ways; first, to read law, so as to realize
+the great anticipations that his father had concerning him; second, he
+worked still harder between eight in the evening and one, two, and even
+four in the morning, to get rid of the too large allowance that his
+father made him.
+
+Like all great men, his father was unsuspicious and easily hoodwinked
+about family matters; so when Quincy grew listless and on certain
+occasions fell asleep at his desk his renowned and indulgent father
+decided it was due to overwork and sent him down to Eastborough for a
+month's rest and change of scene.
+
+His father had known Isaac Pettengill, and in fact had conducted many
+successful suits for him; besides this he had drawn up the papers when
+Uncle Ike divided his fortune. Quincy's father had written to Uncle Ike,
+asking him to find his son a boarding place, and Uncle Ike had selected
+Deacon Mason's as the best place for him.
+
+Quincy's father had told him to be sure and get acquainted with Mr.
+Isaac Pettengill, saying he was a man of fine education, and added, "I
+sometimes feel, Quincy, as though I would like to go into the country
+and take care of a chicken farm myself for a while."
+
+His mother came of the best New England stock, and although she had been
+named Sarah and her husband's name was Nathaniel, we have seen that the
+son had been endowed with the rather high-sounding name of Quincy Adams,
+which his schoolmates had shortened to Quince, and his college friends
+had still further abbreviated to Quinn. Quincy had two sisters and they
+had been equally honored with high-sounding appellations, the elder
+being called Florence Estelle and the younger Maude Gertrude, but to pa,
+ma, brother, and friends they were known as Flossie and Gertie.
+
+The next day after the affair at Hill's grocery, Quincy put several of
+the best cigars in town in his pocket and started towards Eastborough
+Centre for a walk, intending to call upon Uncle Ike Pettengill.
+
+The young man knew that late hours and their usual accompaniments were
+what had undermined his health, so he determined to make his vacation of
+good service to him and recover his accustomed health and strength, and
+when he returned home cut his old acquaintances and settle down
+earnestly and honestly to the battle of life.
+
+He had teen a favorite in city society; he was well educated, well read,
+had travelled considerably and was uniformly polite and affable to all
+classes, from young children to old men and women; he was very careful
+about his dress, and always had that well-groomed appearance, which in
+the city elicits commendation, but which leads the average countryman to
+say "dude" to himself and near friends when talking about him.
+
+Quincy was no dude; he had been prominent in all college athletic games;
+he had been a member of the 'varsity eight in one of its contests with
+Yale, and had won a game for Harvard with Yale at base ball by making a
+home run in the tenth inning on a tied score. He was a good musician and
+fine singer. In addition he was a graceful dancer, and had taken lessons
+in boxing, until his feather-weight teacher suggested that he had better
+find a heavy-weight instructor to practise on.
+
+Quincy was in his twenty-third year. He had been in love a dozen times,
+but, as he expressed it, had been saved from matrimony by getting
+acquainted with a prettier girl just as he was on the point of popping
+the question.
+
+But we left him walking along on his way to Eastborough Centre. Deacon
+Mason had told him Uncle Ike's house was away from the road, some
+hundred feet back, and that he could not mistake it, as he could see the
+chicken coop from the road. He finally reached it after traversing about
+a mile and a half, it being another mile and a half to Eastborough
+Centre.
+
+He found the path that led to the house. As he neared the steps a huge
+dog arose from a reclining posture and faced him, not in an ugly mood,
+but with an expression that seemed to-say, "An introduction will be
+necessary before you come any farther." The dog seemed to understand
+that it was his duty to bring about the necessary introduction, so he
+gave a series of loud barks. The door was quickly opened and Uncle Ike
+stood in the doorway.
+
+"Do I address Mr. Isaac Pettengill?" asked Quincy.
+
+Uncle Ike replied, "That's what they write on my letters."
+
+Quincy continued, "My name is Quincy Adams Sawyer. I am the only son of
+the Hon. Nathaniel Sawyer of Boston, and I bear a letter of introduction
+from him to you."
+
+Quincy took the letter from his pocket and held it in his hand. The dog
+made a quick movement forward and before Quincy could divine his object,
+he took the letter in his mouth and took it to Uncle Ike, and,
+returning, faced Quincy again.
+
+Uncle Ike read the letter slowly and carefully; then he turned to Quincy
+and said, "If you will talk about birds, fish, dogs, and chickens, you
+are welcome, and I shall be glad to see you now or any time. If you talk
+about lawsuits or religion I shall be sorry that you came. I am sick of
+lawyers and ministers. If you insist upon talking on such subjects I'll
+tell Swiss, and the next time you come he won't even bark to let me know
+you're here."
+
+Quincy took in the situation, and smiling said, "I am tired of lawyers
+and lawsuits myself; that is the reason I came down here for a change.
+The subjects you mention will satisfy me, if you will allow me to put in
+a few words about rowing, running, boxing, and football."
+
+Uncle Ike replied, "The physically perfect man I admire, the
+intellectually perfect man is usually a big bore; I prefer the company
+of my chickens." Turning to Swiss he said with a marked change in his
+voice, "This is a friend of mine, Swiss." Turning to Quincy he said, "He
+will admit you until I give him directions to the contrary."
+
+The dog walked quietly to one side and Quincy advanced with outstretched
+hand toward Uncle Ike.
+
+Uncle Ike did not extend his. He said, "I never shake hands, young man.
+It is a hollow social custom. With Damon and Pythias it meant something.
+One was ready to die for the other, and that hand-clasp meant friendship
+until death. How many hand shakings mean that nowadays? Besides," with a
+queer smile, "I have just been cutting up a broiler that I intend to
+cook for my dinner. Come in, you are welcome on the conditions I have
+mentioned."
+
+Quincy obeyed and stepped into the kitchen of Sleepy Hollow. He owned to
+himself in after years that that was the most important step he had
+taken in life--the turning-point in his career.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SOME NEW IDEAS.
+
+
+"Did you ever kill a chicken?" asked Uncle Ike, as Quincy entered the
+room and took a seat in the willow rocker Uncle Ike pointed out to him.
+
+"No," replied Quincy, "but out in Chicago I saw live hogs killed,
+bristles taken off, cut up, assorted according to kind and quality, and
+hung up to cool off, in three minutes."
+
+Uncle Ike responded vehemently, "Yes, I know, and it is a shame to the
+American people that they allow such things."
+
+"That may be true," said Quincy, "but even at that speed they cannot
+kill and pack as fast as it is wanted."
+
+"Yes," said Uncle Ike, "in the old days man feared God, and he treated
+man and beast better for that reason. In these days man serves Mammon
+and he will do anything to win his favor."
+
+"Do you think it is true that men were better in the old days?" asked
+Quincy.
+
+"No," answered Uncle Ike, "I didn't say so. I said that in the old days
+man was afraid to do these things; now if he has money he is afraid of
+neither God, man, nor the devil. To speak frankly, that is why I am so
+independent myself. I am sure of enough to support me as long as I live;
+I owe no man anything, and I allow no man to owe me anything."
+
+Quincy, changing the subject, inquired, "What is your method of killing
+chickens?"
+
+Uncle Ike said, "Let me tell you why I devised a new plan. When I was
+about eight years old I went with my mother to visit an uncle in a
+neighboring town. I was born in Eastborough myself, in the old
+Pettengill house. But this happened some twenty miles from here. My
+uncle was chopping wood, and boy like, I went out to watch him. An old
+rooster kept running around the block, flapping its wings, making
+considerable noise. Uncle shooed him off three or four times. Finally
+uncle made a grab at him, caught him by the legs, whacked him down on
+the block and with his axe cut off his head close to his body, and then
+threw it out on the grass right in front of me. Was that rooster dead? I
+thought not. It got up on its legs, ran right towards where I was
+sitting, and before I could get away I was covered with the blood that
+came from its neck. I don't know how far the rooster ran, but I know I
+never stopped until I was safe in my mother's arms. The balance of the
+time I stayed there you couldn't get me within forty yards of my uncle,
+for every time I met him I could see myself running around without my
+head."
+
+"That made a lasting impression on you," remarked Quincy.
+
+"Yes," said Uncle Ike, "it has lasted me sixty-eight years, one month,
+and thirteen days," pointing to a calendar that hung on the wall.
+
+As Quincy looked in the direction indicated he saw something hanging
+beside it that attracted his attention.
+
+It was a sheet of white paper with a heavy black border. Within the
+border were written these words, "Sacred to the memory of Isaac
+Pettengill, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 4th, 1863,
+aged twenty-nine years. He died for his namesake and his native land."
+
+Quincy said interrogatively, "Did you lose a son in the war?"
+
+"No," was the reply. "I never had a son. That was my substitute."
+
+"Strange that your substitute should have the same name as yourself."
+
+"Yes, it would have been if he had, but he didn't. His right name was
+Lemuel Butters. But I didn't propose to put my money into such a name as
+that."
+
+"Were you drafted?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No," said Uncle Ike. "I might as well tell you the whole story, for you
+seem bound to have it. I came down here in 1850, when I was about sixty.
+Of course I knew what was going on, but I didn't take much interest in
+the war, till a lot of soldiers went by one day. They stopped here; we
+had a talk, and they told me a number of things that I hadn't seen in
+the papers. I haven't read the daily papers for thirteen years, but I
+take some weeklies and the magazines and buy some books. Well, the next
+day I went over to Eastborough Centre and asked the selectmen how much
+it would cost to send a man to the war. They said substitutes were
+bringing $150 just then, but that I was over age and couldn't be
+drafted, and there was no need of my sending anybody. I remarked that in
+my opinion a man's patriotism ought not to die out as long as he lived.
+It seemed to me that if a man had $150 it was his duty to pay for a
+substitute, if he was a hundred. The selectmen said that they had a
+young fellow named Lem Butters who was willing to go if he got a hundred
+and fifty. So I planked down the money, but with the understanding that
+he should take my name. Well, to make a long story short, I got killed
+at Gettysburg and I wrote that out as a reminder."
+
+"Don't you ever get lonesome alone here by yourself?" Quincy asked.
+
+"Yes," said Uncle Ike. "I am lonesome every minute of the time. That's
+what I came down here for. I got tired being lonesome with other people
+around me, so I thought I would come down here and be lonesome all by
+myself, and I have never been sorry I came."
+
+Quincy opened his eyes and looked inquiringly at Uncle Ike.
+
+"I don't quite understand what you mean by being lonesome with other
+people around you," said he.
+
+"No, of course you don't," replied Uncle Ike. "You are too young. I was
+sixty. I was thirty-five when I got married and my wife was only
+twenty-two, so when I was sixty she was only forty-seven. One girl was
+twenty-three and the other twenty. I went to work at seven o'clock in
+the morning and got home at seven at night. My wife and daughters went
+to theatres, dinners, and parties, and of course I stayed at home and
+kept house with the servant girl. In my business I had taken in two
+young fellows as partners, both good, honest men, but soon they got to
+figuring that on business points they were two and I was one, and pretty
+soon all I had to do was to put wood on the fire and feed the office
+cat. So you can see I was pretty lonesome about eighteen hours out of
+the twenty-four."
+
+Quincy said reflectively, "And your family--"
+
+Uncle Ike broke in, "Are alive and well, I suppose. They don't write me
+and I don't write them. I told my partners they must buy me out, and I
+gave them sixty days to do it in. I gave my wife and daughters
+two-thirds of my fortune and put the other third into an annuity. I am
+calculating now that if my health holds good I shall beat the insurance
+company in the end."
+
+Quincy, finding that his inquiries provoked such interesting replies,
+risked another, "Are your daughters married?"
+
+Uncle Ike laughed quietly. "I don't read the daily papers as I said, so
+I don't know, but they wouldn't send me cards anyway. They know my ideas
+of marriage."
+
+Quincy, smiling, asked, "Have you some new ideas on that old custom?"
+
+"Yes, I have," replied Uncle Ike. "If two men go into business and each
+puts in money and they make money or don't make it, the law doesn't fix
+it so that they must keep together for their natural lives, but allows
+the firm to be dissolved by mutual consent."
+
+"Why, sir, that would make marriage a limited partnership," said Quincy
+with a smile.
+
+"What better is it now?" asked Uncle Ike. "The law doesn't compel
+couples to live together if they don't want to, and if they don't want
+to live together, why not let them, under proper restrictions, get up
+some new firms? Of course, there wouldn't be any objection to parties
+living together for their natural lives, if they wanted to, and the fact
+that they did would be pretty good proof that they wanted to."
+
+Quincy started to speak, "But what--"
+
+"I know what you were going to say," said Uncle Ike. "You are going to
+ask that tiresome old question, what will become of the children? Well,
+I should consider them part of the property on hand and divide them and
+the money according to law."
+
+"But few mothers would consent to be parted from their children."
+
+"Oh, that's nonsense," replied Uncle Ike. "I have a Massachusetts State
+Report here that says about five hundred children every year are
+abandoned by their mothers for some cause or other. They leave them on
+doorsteps and in railroad stations; they put them out to board and don't
+pay their board; and the report says that every one of these little
+waifs is adopted by good people, and they get a better education and a
+better bringing up than their own parents could or would give them. Have
+you ever read, Mr. Sawyer, of the Austrian baron who was crossed in
+love and decided he would never marry?"
+
+Quincy shook his head.
+
+"Well, he was wealthy and had a big castle, with no one to live in it,
+and during his life he adopted, educated, clothed, and sent out into the
+world, fitted to make their own living, more than a thousand children.
+To my mind, Mr. Sawyer, he was a bigger man than any emperor or king who
+has ever lived."
+
+Quincy asked, "But how are you going to start such a reform, Mr.
+Pettengill? The first couple that got reunited on the partnership plan
+would be the laughing stock of the community."
+
+"Just so," said Uncle Ike, "but I can get over that difficulty. The
+State of Massachusetts has led in a great many social reforms. Let it
+take the first step forward in this one; let it declare by law that all
+marriages on and after a certain day shall terminate five years from the
+date of marriage unless the couples wish to renew the bonds. Then let
+everybody laugh at everybody else if they want to."
+
+"Well, how about those couples that were married before that day?"
+
+"That's easy," was Uncle Ike's reply. "Give them all a chance five years
+after the law to dissolve by mutual consent, if they want to. Don't
+forget, Mr. Sawyer, that with such a law there would be no need of
+divorce courts, and if any man insulted a woman, imprisonment for life
+and even the gallows wouldn't be any too good for him. Will you stay to
+lunch, Mr. Sawyer? My chicken is about done."
+
+Quincy arose and politely declined the invitation, saying he had been so
+much interested he had remained much longer than he had intended, but he
+would be pleased to call again some day if Mr. Pettengill were willing.
+
+"Oh, yes, come any time," said Uncle Ike, "you're a good listener, and I
+always like a man that allows me to do most of the talking. By the way,
+we didn't get a chance to say much this time about shooting, fishing, or
+football."
+
+Quincy went down the steps, and Uncle Ike stood at the door, as he did
+before he entered. Swiss looked at Quincy with an expression that seemed
+to say, "You have made a pretty long call." Quincy patted him on the
+head, called him "good dog," and walked briskly down the path towards
+the road. When he was about fifty feet from the house, Uncle Ike called
+out sharply, "Mr. Sawyer!" Quincy turned on his heel quickly and looked
+towards the speaker. Uncle Ike's voice, still sharp, spoke these
+farewell words:
+
+"I forgot to tell you, Mr. Sawyer, that I always chloroform my chickens
+before I cut their heads off."
+
+He stepped back into the house. Swiss, with a bound, was in the room
+beside him, and when Quincy again turned his steps towards the road the
+closed door had shut them both from view.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+"THAT CITY FELLER."
+
+
+As usual, the next morning Hiram was down to the Pettengill house
+between nine and ten o'clock. He opened the kitchen door unobserved by
+Mandy and looked in at her. She was standing at the sink washing dishes
+and singing to herself. Suddenly Hiram gave a jump into the room and
+cried out in a loud voice, "How are you, Mandy?"
+
+She dropped a tin pan that she was wiping, which fell with a clatter,
+breaking a plate that happened to be in the sink.
+
+"I'm much worse, thank you," she retorted, "and none the better for
+seeing you. What do you mean by coming into the house and yelling like a
+wild Injin? I shall expect you to pay for that plate anyway."
+
+"He who breaks pays," said Hiram with a laugh. "But why don't you shake
+hands with a fellow?"
+
+"I will if I like and I won't if I like," replied Mandy, extending her
+hand, which was covered with soapsuds.
+
+"Wipe your hand," said Hiram, "and I'll give you this ten cents to pay
+for the plate."
+
+As he said this he extended the money towards her. Mandy did not attempt
+to take it, but giving her wet hand a flip threw the soapsuds full in
+Hiram's face. He rushed forward and caught her about the waist; as he
+did so he dropped the money, which rolled under the kitchen table.
+
+Mandy turned around quickly and facing Hiram, caught him by both ears,
+which she pulled vigorously. He released his hold upon her and jumped
+back to escape further punishment.
+
+"Now, Mr. Hiram Maxwell," said she, facing him, "what do you mean by
+such actions? I've a good mind to put you outdoors and never set eyes on
+you again. What would Mr. Pettengill have thought if he'd a come in a
+minute ago?"
+
+"I guess he'd a thought that I was gittin' on better'n I really am,"
+replied Hiram, with a crestfallen look. "Now, Mandy, don't get mad, I
+didn't mean nothin', I was only foolin' and you began it fust, by
+throwin' that dirty water in my face, and no feller that had any spunk
+could stand that." As he said this, a broad smile covered his face.
+"Say, Mandy," he continued, "here comes Obadiah Strout, we'd better make
+up before he gits in or it'll be all over town that you and me have been
+fightin'. Got any chores this mornin', Mandy, that I can do for you?"
+
+At this moment the kitchen door was again opened and Professor Strout
+entered.
+
+"Where's Pettengill?" he asked of Mandy, not noticing Hiram.
+
+"I guess he's out in the wood-shed, if he hasn't gone somewheres else,"
+replied Mandy, resuming her work at the sink.
+
+Strout turned towards Hiram and said, as if he had been unaware
+previously of his presence, "Oh! you there, Hiram? Just go find
+Pettengill for me like a good feller and tell him Professor Strout
+wishes to see him up to the house."
+
+"At the same time, Hiram," said Mandy, "go find me that dozen eggs that
+I told you I wanted for that puddin'."
+
+Hiram winked at Mandy, unseen by the Professor and started for the
+chicken coop.
+
+"Guess I'll have a chair," remarked the Professor.
+
+"All right, if you don't take it with you when you go," replied Mandy,
+still busily washing dishes.
+
+"Fine weather," said Strout.
+
+"Sorter between," laconically replied Mandy.
+
+"Did you enjoy the concert?" asked Strout.
+
+"Some parts of it," said Mandy. "I thought Mr. Sawyer and Miss Putnam
+were just splendid. His whistling was just grand."
+
+"He'll whistle another kind of a tune in a few days," remarked Strout.
+
+"What? Are you going to give another concert?" asked Mandy, looking at
+him for the first time.
+
+"If I do," replied the Professor, "you bet he won't be one of the
+performers."
+
+"Oh, I see," said Mandy, "you're mad with him 'cause he hogged the whole
+show. Mr. Maxwell was just telling me as how Mr. Sawyer was going to
+hire the Town Hall on Washington's birthday and bring down a big brass
+band from Boston and give a concert that would put you in the shade, and
+somebody was telling me, I forget who, that Mr. Sawyer don't like to sit
+'round doing nothin', and he's goin' to give music lessons."
+
+These last two untruthful shots hit the mark, as she knew they would,
+and Strout, abandoning the subject, blurted out, "Where in thunder's
+that Hiram? I'll be blowed if I don't believe he went to look for the
+eggs first."
+
+"I reckon he did," said Mandy, "if he means to keep on good terms with
+me. He ain't likely to tend to stray jobs till he's done up his regular
+chores."
+
+"I s'pose Deacon Mason sends him down here to wait on you?" remarked
+Strout with a sneer.
+
+"Did Deacon Mason tell you that you could have him to run your errands?"
+inquired Mandy, with a pout.
+
+"Guess the best thing I can do," said Strout rising, "is to go hunt
+Pettengill up myself."
+
+"I guess you've struck it right this time," assented Mandy, as Strout
+left the room and started for the wood-shed.
+
+As he closed the door, Mandy resumed her singing as though such
+conversations were of everyday occurrence.
+
+She finished her work at the sink and was fixing the kitchen fire when
+Hiram returned.
+
+"All I could find," said he, holding an egg in each hand. "The hens must
+have struck or think it's a holiday. S'pose there's any out in the barn?
+Come, let's go look, Mandy. Where's old Strout?"
+
+"I guess he's gone to look for Mr. Pettengill," replied Mandy, with a
+laugh.
+
+"I kinder thought he would if I stayed long enough," said Hiram, with a
+grin; "but come along, Mandy, no hen fruit, no puddin'."
+
+"Mr. Maxwell," said Mandy, soberly, "I wish you'd be more particular
+about your language. You know I abominate slang. You know how careful I
+try to be."
+
+"You're a dandy," said Hiram, taking her hand.
+
+They ran as far as the wood-shed, when seeing the door open, they hid
+behind it until Strout came out and walked down towards the lane to meet
+Ezekiel, whom he had seen coming up from the road. Then Hiram and Mandy
+sped on their way to the barn, which they quickly reached and were soon
+upon the haymow, apparently searching intently for eggs.
+
+When Strout reached Ezekiel he shook hands with him and said, "Come up
+to the barn, Pettengill, I've got a little somethin' I want to tell you
+and it's kinder private. It's about that city feller that's swellin'
+round here puttin' on airs and tryin' to make us think that his father
+is a bigger man than George Washington. He about the same as told me
+down to the grocery store that the blood of all the Quincys flowed in
+one arm and the blood of all the Adams in the other, but I kinder guess
+that the rest of his carcass is full of calf's blood and there's more
+fuss and feathers than fight to him."
+
+By this time they had reached the barn and they sat down upon a pile of
+hay at the foot of the mow.
+
+"Now my plan's this," said Strout. "You know Bob Wood; well, he's the
+biggest feller and the best fighter in town. I'm goin' to post Bob up as
+to how to pick a quarrel with that city feller. When he gets the lickin'
+that he deserves, I rayther think that Deacon Mason will lose a
+boarder."
+
+"But s'posin' Mr. Sawyer licks Bob Wood?" queried Ezekiel.
+
+"Oh! I don't count much on that," said Strout; "but if it should turn
+out that way we're goin' to turn in and get up a surprise party for Miss
+Mason and jist leave him out."
+
+"I hope you ain't goin' to do any fightin' down to Deacon Mason's?"
+remarked Ezekiel.
+
+"Oh, no!" protested Strout, "it'll be kind o' quiet, underminin' work,
+as it were. Remarks and sayin's and side whispers and odd looks, the
+cold shoulder business, you know, that soon tells a feller that his
+company ain't appreciated."
+
+"Well, I don't think that's quite fair," said Ezekiel. "You don't like
+him, Mr. Strout, but I don't think the whole town will take it up."
+
+The Professor said sternly, "He has insulted me and in doing that he has
+insulted the whole town of Eastborough."
+
+A smothered laugh was heard.
+
+"By George! What was that?" cried Strout.
+
+Ezekiel was at a loss what to say, and before he could reply, Mandy's
+laughing had caused the hay to move. As it began to slide she clutched
+at Hiram in a vain effort to save herself, and the next instant a large
+pile of hay, bearing Hiram and Mandy, came down, falling upon Ezekiel
+and Strout and covering them from sight.
+
+When all had struggled to their feet, Ezekiel turned to Mandy and said
+sharply, "What were you doin' up there, Mandy?"
+
+"Looking for eggs," said she, as she ran out of the barn and started for
+the house.
+
+Hiram stood with his mouth distended with a huge smile. Strout turned
+towards him and said savagely, "Well, if you're the only egg she got,
+'twas a mighty bad one."
+
+Hiram retorted, "I would rather be called a bad egg than somethin' I
+heard about you."
+
+Strout, in a passion, cried out, "Who said anything about me?"
+
+Hiram made for the barn door and then said, "heard a gentleman say as
+how there was only one jackass in Eastborough and he taught the singin'
+school."
+
+Strout caught up a rake to throw at him, but Hiram was out of sight
+before he could carry out his purpose. Turning to Ezekiel, Strout said,
+"I bet a dollar, Pettengill, it was that city feller that said that, and
+as I have twice remarked and this makes three times, this town ain't big
+enough to hold both on us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+CITY SKILL VERSUS COUNTRY MUSCLE.
+
+
+Hiram Maxwell was not called upon to perform very arduous duties at
+Deacon Mason's. The Deacon had given up farming several years before,
+and Hiram's duties consisted in doing the chores about the house. He had
+plenty of spare time, and he used it by going down to the Pettengill
+place and talking to Mandy Skinner.
+
+The next morning after the adventure in the barn, Hiram went down as
+usual after his morning's work was done to see Mandy.
+
+"How do you find things, Mandy?" said Hiram, opening the kitchen door
+and putting his head in.
+
+"By looking for them," said Mandy, without looking up from her work.
+
+"You are awful smart, ain't you?" retorted Hiram.
+
+Mandy replied, "People's opinion that I think a good deal more of than
+yours have said that same thing, Mr. Maxwell."
+
+Hiram saw that he was worsted, so he changed the conversation.
+
+"Anybody to hum?"
+
+Mandy answered sharply, "Everybody's out but me, of course I am nobody."
+
+Hiram came in and closed the door.
+
+"You needn't be so pesky smart with your tongue, Mandy. Of course I
+can't keep up with you and you know it. What's up?"
+
+Mandy replied, "The thermometer. It isn't nearly as cold as it was
+yesterday."
+
+Hiram, seeing a breakfast apparently laid out on a side table inquired,
+"Expectin' somebody to breakfast?"
+
+"No," said Mandy, "I got that ready for Mr. Pettengill, but he didn't
+have time to eat it because he was afraid he would lose the train."
+
+"Has he gone to the city?" asked Hiram.
+
+"I 'spect he has," answered Mandy.
+
+"Well," remarked Hiram, "s'posin' I eat that breakfast myself, so as to
+save you the trouble of throwin' it away."
+
+"Well," said Mandy, "I was going to give it to the pigs; I suppose one
+hog might as well have it as another."
+
+Hiram said, "Why, you don't call me a big eater, do you, Mandy?"
+
+Mandy laughed and said, "I can't tell, I never saw you when you wasn't
+hungry. How do you know when you have got enough?"
+
+Hiram said, "I haven't got but one way of tellin', I allus eats till it
+hurts me, then I stop while the pain lasts."
+
+Then he asked Mandy, "What did 'Zekiel go to the city for?"
+
+Mandy answered, "Mr. Pettengill does not confide his private business to
+me."
+
+Hiram broke in, "I bet a dollar you know why he went, just the same."
+
+Mandy said, "I bet a dollar I do."
+
+Then she broke into a loud laugh. Hiram evidently thought it was very
+funny and laughed until the tears stood in his eyes.
+
+"What are you laughing for?" asked Mandy.
+
+Hiram's countenance fell.
+
+"Come down to the fine point, Mandy, durned if I know."
+
+"That's a great trick of yours, Hiram," said Mandy. "You ought not to
+laugh at anything unless you understand it."
+
+"I guess I wouldn't laugh much then," said Hiram. "I allus laugh when I
+don't understand anythin', so folks won't think that I don't know where
+the p'int domes in. But say, Mandy, what did Pettengill go to the city
+for?"
+
+During this conversation Hiram had been eating the breakfast that had
+been prepared for Ezekiel. Mandy sat down near him and said, "I'll tell
+you, but it ain't nothing to laugh at. Mr. Pettengill had a telegraph
+message come last night."
+
+"You don't say so!" said Hiram. "It must be pretty important for persons
+to spend money that way. Nobody dead, I s'pose?"
+
+"Well," said Mandy, "Mr. Pettengill left the telegram in his room and I
+had to read it to see whether I had to throw it away or not, and I
+remember every word that was in it."
+
+Hiram asked earnestly, "Well, what was it? Is his sister Alice goin' to
+get married?"
+
+Mandy answered, "No, she is sick and she wanted him to come right up to
+Boston at once to see her."
+
+Hiram said, "'Zekiel must think a powerful lot of that sister of his'n.
+Went right off to Boston without his breakfast."
+
+"I guess it would have to be something nearer than a sister to make you
+do that," said Mandy. "I don't know but one thing, Hiram, that would
+make you go without your feed."
+
+"What's that, Mandy?" said he. "You?"
+
+"No," replied Mandy, "a famine."
+
+"You ain't no sort of an idea as to what's the matter with her, have
+you?" he asked.
+
+"No, I haven't," said Mandy, "and if I had I don't imagine I would tell
+you. Now you better run right home, little boy, for I have to go
+upstairs and do the chamber work."
+
+She whisked out of the room, and Hiram, helping himself to a couple of
+apples, left the house and walked slowly along the road towards
+Eastborough Centre.
+
+Suddenly he espied a man coming up the road and soon saw it was Quincy
+Adams Sawyer.
+
+"Just the feller I wanted to see," soliliquized Hiram.
+
+As Quincy reached him he said, "Mr. Sawyer, I want to speak to you a
+minute or two. Come into Pettengill's barn, there's nobody to hum but
+Mandy and she's upstairs makin' the beds."
+
+They entered the barn and sat down on a couple of half barrels that
+served for stools.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer, you've treated me fust rate since you've been here and I
+want to do you a good turn and put you on your guard."
+
+Quincy laughed.
+
+Hiram continued, "Well, maybe you won't laugh if Bob Wood tackles you. I
+won't tell you how I found it out for I'm no eavesdropper, but keep your
+eye on Bob Wood and look out he don't play no mean tricks on you."
+
+Quincy remarked, "I suppose Mr. Strout is at the bottom of this and he
+has hired this Bob Wood to do what he can't do himself."
+
+"I guess you have got it about right, Mr. Sawyer," said Hiram. "Can you
+fight?" he asked of Quincy.
+
+"I am a good shot with a rifle," Quincy replied. "I can hit the ace of
+hearts at one hundred feet with a pistol."
+
+"I don't mean that," said Hiram. "Can you fight with yer fists?"
+
+"I don't know much about it," said Quincy with a queer smile.
+
+"Then I am afraid you will find Bob Wood a pretty tough customer. He can
+lick any two fellers in town. Why, he polished off Cobb's twins one day
+in less than five minutes, both of 'em."
+
+"Where does this Bob Wood spend most of his time?" asked Quincy.
+
+"He loafs around Hill's grocery. When he ain't wokin' at his trade,"
+said Hiram, "he does odd jobs for the Putnams in summer and cuts some
+wood for them in winter. You know Lindy Putnam, the gal you sang with at
+the concert?"
+
+"Come along," said Quincy, "I feel pretty good this morning, we'll walk
+down to Hill's and see if that Mr. Wood has anything to say to me."
+
+"Don't you think the best plan, Mr. Sawyer, would be to keep out of his
+way?" queried Hiram.
+
+"Well, I can't tell that," said Quincy, "until I get better acquainted
+with him. After that he may think he'd better keep out of my way."
+
+"Why, he's twice as big as you," cried Hiram, with a look of
+astonishment on his face.
+
+"Come along, Hiram," said Quincy. "By the way, I haven't seen Miss
+Putnam since the concert. I think I will have to call on her."
+
+Hiram laughed until his face was as red as a beet.
+
+"By gum, that's good," he said, as he struck both legs with his hands.
+
+"What's good?" asked Quincy. "Calling on Miss Putnam?"
+
+"Yes," said Hiram. "Wouldn't she be s'prised?"
+
+"Why?" asked Quincy. "Such a call wouldn't be considered anything out of
+the way in the city."
+
+"No, nor it wouldn't here," said Hiram, "but for the fact that Miss
+Putnam don't encourage callers. She goes round a visitin' herself, and
+she treats the other girls fust rate, 'cause she has plenty of money and
+can afford it. But she has got two good reasons for not wantin'
+visitors."
+
+"What are they?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Well, I'm country myself," said Hiram, "and there are others in
+Eastborough that are more country than I am. But if you want to see and
+hear the genooine old Rubes you want to see old Sy Putnam and his wife
+Heppy."
+
+"But Miss Mason said Miss Putnam was quite wealthy."
+
+"You bet she is," said Hiram. "She's worth hundreds of millions of
+dollars."
+
+"I think you must mean thousands," remarked Quincy.
+
+"Well, as far as I'm concerned," said Hiram, "when you talk about
+millions or thousands of money, one's just the same to me as t'other. I
+never seed so much money in my life as I seed since you've been here,
+but I don't want you to think I'm beggin' for more."
+
+"No," said Quincy, "I should never impute such a motive to you."
+
+Quincy took a dollar bill from his pocket and held it up before Hiram.
+
+"What's that?" he asked.
+
+"That's one hundred cents," said Hiram, "considerably more than I have
+got."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "if you tell me why Miss Putnam doesn't like
+callers I will give you that dollar."
+
+"Stop a minute," replied Hiram. "Soon as we turn this next corner we'll
+be in full sight of the grocery store. You can go ahead and I'll slip
+'cross lots and come up from behind the store. If Wood thought I'd told
+you he would lick me and I'm no fighter. Now about Miss Putnam,"
+dropping his voice, "I heard it said, and I guess it's pretty near the
+truth, that she is so blamed stuck up and dresses so fine in city
+fashions that she is just 'shamed of her old pa and ma and don't want
+nobody to see 'em."
+
+"But," asked Quincy, "where did she get her money?"
+
+Hiram answered, "From her only brother. He went down to Boston, made a
+pile of money, then died and left it all to Lindy. If what I've told
+you ain't gospel truth it's mighty near it. Well, I'll see you later,
+Mr. Sawyer."
+
+And Hiram ran down a path that led across the fields.
+
+Quincy turned the corner and walked briskly towards Hill's grocery
+store. A dozen or more young men and as many older ones were lounging
+about the platform that ran the whole length of the store, for it was a
+very mild day in January, and the snow was rapidly leaving under the
+influence of what might be called a January thaw.
+
+Quincy walked through the crowd, giving a friendly nod to several faces
+that looked familiar, but the names of whose owners were unknown to him.
+He entered the store, found a letter from his mother and another from
+his sister Gertie, and saying "Good morning" to Mr. Hill, who was the
+village postmaster, soon reached the platform again.
+
+As he did so a heavily built young fellow, fully six feet tall and
+having a coarse red face, stepped up to him and said brusquely, "I
+believe your name's Sawyer."
+
+"Your belief is well founded," replied Quincy. "I regret that I do not
+know your name."
+
+"Well, you won't have to suffer long before you find out," said the
+fellow. "My name's Robert Wood, or Bob Wood for short."
+
+"Ah! I see," said Quincy. "Robert for long wood and Bob for short wood."
+
+Wood's face grew redder.
+
+"I s'pose you think that's mighty smart makin' fun of folks' names. I
+guess there ain't much doubt but what you said what a friend of mine
+tells me you did."
+
+Quincy remarked calmly, "Well, what did your friend say I said about
+you?"
+
+By this time the loungers in and outside the store had gathered around
+the two talkers. Wood seemed encouraged and braced up by the presence of
+so many friends. He walked up close to Quincy and said, "Well, my friend
+told me that you said there was but one jackass in Eastborough and he
+sang bass in the quartette."
+
+Quincy paled a little, but replied firmly, "I never said it, and if your
+friend says I did he lies and he knows it."
+
+At this juncture, as if prearranged, Obadiah Strout suddenly emerged
+from the grocery store.
+
+"What's the matter, gentlemen?" asked Mr. Strout.
+
+"Well," said Wood, "I told this young man what you said he said, and he
+says you're a liar."
+
+"Well," said Strout pompously, "I know that he said it and I have
+witnesses to prove it. When you settle with him for calling you a
+jackass I'll settle with him for calling me a liar."
+
+"Take your coat off, Mr. Sawyer, and get ready. I won't keep you waitin'
+but a few moments," said Bob.
+
+A jeering laugh went up from the crowd. Quincy, turning, saw Hiram.
+
+"Here, Hiram," said he, "hold my things."
+
+He took off his overcoat and then his black Prince Albert coat and
+passed them to Hiram. Then he removed his hat, which he also handed to
+Hiram.
+
+Turning to Wood he said, "Come right out here, Mr. Wood; here is a place
+where the sun has kindly removed the snow and we can get a good
+footing."
+
+Wood followed him, and the crowd formed a ring about them.
+
+"Now, Mr. Wood, or perhaps I should say Bob Wood for short, put up your
+hands."
+
+Bob put them up in defiance of all rules governing boxing. This was
+enough for Quincy; he had sized up his man and determined to make the
+most of his opportunity.
+
+"Mr. Wood," he said politely, "before I hit you I am going to tell you
+just exactly where I am going to strike, so you can't blame me for
+anything that may happen. I shall commence on your right eye."
+
+Wood's face grew livid; he made a rush at Quincy as though he would fall
+on him and crush him. Quincy easily eluded him, and when Wood made his
+second rush at him he parried a right-hander, and before Wood could
+recover, he struck him a square blow full on his right eye. They faced
+each other again.
+
+"Now, Mr. Wood," said Quincy, "I see you have a watch in your vest
+pocket. Is it an open-faced watch?"
+
+"S'posin' you find out," said Wood, glaring at Quincy with his left eye,
+his right one being closed up.
+
+"Well, then," remarked Quincy, "you will be obliged to have it repaired,
+for I am going to hit you just where that watch is and it may injure
+it."
+
+Wood was more wary this time and Quincy was more scientific. He gave
+Wood a left-hander in the region of the heart which staggered him.
+
+They faced each other for the third time.
+
+"I regret the necessity this time, but I will be obliged to strike you
+full in the face and in my excitement may hit your nose."
+
+It required all of Quincy's dexterity to avoid the wild rushes and
+savage thrusts made by Wood. But Quincy understood every one of the
+boxer's secrets and was as light and agile on his feet as a cat. It was
+three minutes at least before Quincy got the desired opening, and then
+he landed a blow on Wood's nose that sent him flat upon his back.
+
+[Illustration: "AND THEN HE LANDED A BLOW ON WOOD'S NOSE"]
+
+"That's enough," cried the crowd, and several friends led Wood to a seat
+on the platform.
+
+Quincy turned to Strout. "Now, Mr. Strout, I am at your service."
+
+"No, sir," said Strout, "I am willing to fight a gentleman, but I don't
+fight with no professional prize fighter like you." Turning to the
+crowd: "I know all about this fellow. He is no lawyer at all, he is a
+regular prize fighter, and down in Boston he is known by the name of
+Billy Shanks."
+
+Quincy smiled. Turning to the crowd he said, "The statement just made by
+Mr. Strout is like his statement to Mr. Wood. The first was a lie, the
+second is a lie, and the man who uttered them is a liar. Good morning,
+gentlemen."
+
+Quincy went to Hiram, who helped him on with his coats. They walked
+along together. After they turned the corner and got out of sight of the
+grocery store, Hiram said:
+
+"Geewhilikins! What a smasher you gave him. I thought you said you
+didn't know nothin' about fightin'."
+
+"I don't know much," responded Quincy. "There are a dozen men in Boston
+who could do to me just exactly what I did to Bob Wood."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+MR. SAWYER CALLS ON MISS PUTNAM.
+
+
+Quincy had a double purpose in calling on Lindy; he actually wished to
+see her, for they had not met since the concert, but his principal wish
+was to meet a real old-fashioned country couple. To be sure, Deacon
+Mason and his wife often dropped into the vernacular, but the Deacon was
+a very dignified old gentleman and his wife was not a great talker. What
+he desired was to find one of the old-fashioned style of country women,
+with a tongue hung in the middle and running at both ends. His wish was
+to be gratified.
+
+When he clanged the old brass knocker on the door, Samanthy Green
+answered the call.
+
+"Is Miss Putnam at home?" asked Quincy politely.
+
+"No, she ain't," said Samanthy, "but Mr. and Mrs. Putnam is. They're
+allus to hum. They don't go nowheres from one year's end to t'other."
+
+"I would like to see them," said Quincy.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Samanthy, "walk right in."
+
+She threw open the door of the sitting-room. "Here's a gentleman that
+wants to see you, Mas' Putnam. Leastwise he asked for Lindy fust."
+
+Samanthy left the room, slamming the door after her.
+
+"My name is Sawyer," said Quincy, addressing the old lady and gentleman
+who were seated in rocking chairs. "I met your daughter at the concert
+given at the Town Hall New-Year's night."
+
+Mrs. Putnam said, "Glad to see ye, Mr. Sawyer; have a chair."
+
+As Quincy laid his hand upon the chair, the old gentleman called out in
+a voice that would have startled a bull of Bashan, "What's his name,
+Heppy?"
+
+Mrs. Putnam answered in a shrill voice with an edge like a knife,
+"Sawyer."
+
+"Sawyer!" yelled the man. "Any relation to Jim Sawyer that got drunk,
+beat his wife, starved his children, and finally ended up in the town
+Poorhouse?"
+
+Quincy shook his head and replied, "I think not. I don't live here; I
+live in Boston."
+
+"Du tell," said Mrs. Putnam. "How long you been here?"
+
+Quincy replied that he arrived two days after Christmas.
+
+"Where be you stoppin'?" asked Mrs. Putnam.
+
+Quincy answered, "I am boarding at Deacon Mason's."
+
+"He's a nice old gentleman," said Mrs. Putnam, "and Mrs. Mason's good as
+they make 'em. Her daughter Huldy's a pert young thing, she's pretty and
+she knows it."
+
+Quincy remarked that he thought Miss Mason was a very nice young lady.
+
+"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Putnam, "you young fellers never look more than
+skin deep. Now the way she trifles with that young 'Zekiel Pettengill I
+think's shameful. They ust to have a spat every week about something but
+they allus made it up. But I heard Lindy say that after you come here,
+'Zeke he got huffy and Huldy she got independent, and they hain't spoke
+to each other nigh on two weeks."
+
+This was a revelation to Quincy, but he was to hear more about it very
+soon.
+
+"How long be you goin' to stay, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I haven't decided," said Quincy.
+
+"What's your business?" persisted Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"I am a lawyer," replied Quincy.
+
+Mrs. Putnam looked at him inquiringly and said, "Be n't you rather young
+for a lawyer? How old be you, anyway?"
+
+Quincy decided to take a good humored part in his cross examination and
+said without a smile, "I am twenty-three years, two months, sixteen days
+old."
+
+"Be you?" exclaimed Mrs. Putnam. "I shouldn't have said you were a day
+over nineteen."
+
+Quincy never felt his youth so keenly before. He determined to change
+the conversation.
+
+"Did you attend the concert, Mrs. Putnam?"
+
+"No," said she. "Pa and me don't go out much; he's deefer'n a stone post
+and I've had the rheumatiz so bad in my knees for the last five years
+that I can't walk without crutches;" and she pointed to a pair that lay
+on the floor beside her chair.
+
+During this conversation old Mr. Putnam had been eying Quincy very
+keenly. He blurted out, "He's a chip of the old block, Heppy; he looks
+just as Jim did when he fust came to this town. Did yer say yer had an
+Uncle Jim?"
+
+Quincy shook his head.
+
+Mrs. Putnam turned to her husband and yelled, "Now you shet up, Silas,
+and don't bother the young man. Jim Sawyer ain't nothin' to be proud of,
+and I don't blame the young man for not ownin' up even if Jim is his
+uncle."
+
+Quincy made another attempt to change the conversation. "Your daughter
+is a very fine singer, Mrs. Putnam."
+
+"Well, I s'pose so," said she; "there's been enough money spent on her
+to make suthin' of her. As for me I don't like this folderol singin'.
+Why, when she ust to be practisin' I had to go up in the attic or else
+stuff cotton in my ears. But my son, Jehoiakim Jones Putnam, he sot
+everythin' by Lucinda, and there wasn't anythin' she wanted that she
+couldn't have. He's dead now, but he left more'n a hundred thousand
+dollars, that he made speculatin'."
+
+"Then your daughter will be quite an heiress one of these days, Mrs.
+Putnam?"
+
+She answered, "She won't get none of my money. Jehoiakim left her all of
+his'n, but before she got it she had to sign a paper, a wafer, I believe
+they call it, if you're a lawyer you ought to know what it was, givin'
+up all claim on my money. I made my will and the girl who'll get it
+needs it and will make good use of it."
+
+Quincy determined to get even with Mrs. Putnam for the questioning she
+put him through, so he said, "Did you make your money speculating, Mrs.
+Putnam?"
+
+"No," said she, "pa made it by hard work on the farm; but he gave it all
+to me more'n fifteen year ago, and he hasn't got a cent to his name.
+He's just as bad off as Jim Sawyer. I feed him and clothe him and shall
+have to bury him. I guess it seems kinder odd to ye, so I reckon I'll
+have to tell ye the hull story. I've told it a dozen times, but I guess
+it'll bear tellin' once more. You see my husband here, Silas Putnam, was
+brought up religis and he's allus been a churchgoin' man. We were both
+Methodists, and everythin' went all right till one day a Second Advent
+preacher came along, and then things went all wrong. He canoodled my
+husband into believin' that the end of the world was comin' and it was
+his duty to give all his property away, so he could stand clean handed
+afore the Lord. My dander riz when I heerd them makin' their plans, but
+afore my husband got deef he was great on argifyin' and argumentin', and
+I didn't stand much show against two on 'em; but when Silas told me he
+was goin' to give his property away I sot up my Ebenezer, and I says,
+'Silas Putnam, if you gives your property to any one you gives it to
+me.' So after a long tussle it was settled that way and the lawyers drew
+up the papers. The night afore the world was goin' to end he prayed all
+night. You can imagine with that air voice of his'n I didn't sleep a
+wink. When mornin' came--it was late in October and the air was pretty
+sharp--Silas stopped prayin' and put on his white robe, which was a
+shirt of hisn't I pieced out so it came down to his feet, and takin' a
+tin trumpet that he bought over to Eastborough Centre, he went out,
+climbed up on the barn, sot down on the ridgepole and waited for Kingdom
+Come. He sot there and tooted all mornin' and 'spected the angel Gabriel
+would answer back. He sot there and tooted all the arternoon till the
+cows come home and the chickens went to roost. I had three good square
+meals that day, but Silas didn't get a bite. 'Bout six o'clock I did
+think of takin' him out some doughnuts, but then I decided if he was
+goin' up so soon it was no use a wastin' em, so I put 'em back in the
+pantry. He sot there and tooted all the evenin' till the moon come up
+and the stars were all out, and then he slid down off'n the barn, and
+barked both his shins doin' it, threw his trumpet into the pig pen, come
+into the house and huddled up close to the fire. He didn't say nothin'
+for a spell, but finally says he, 'I guess, Heppy, that feller made a
+mistake in figurin' out the date.' 'I guess, Silas,' says I, 'that
+you've made an all-fired fool of yerself. And if you don't go to bed
+quick and take a rum sweat, I shall be a widder in a very short time,'
+He was sick for more'n three weeks, but I pulled him through by good
+nussin', and the fust day he was able to set up, I says to him, 'Now,
+Silas Putnam, when I married ye forty-five year ago I promised to obey
+ye, ye was allus a good perwider and I don't perpose to see yer want for
+nothin', but ye have got to hold up yer right hand and swear to obey me
+for the rest of yer nateral life,' and he did it. He got well, and he is
+tougher'n a biled owl, if he is eighty-six. But the cold sorter settled
+in his ears, and he's deef as an adder. Ef angel Gabriel blew his horn
+now I'm afeared Silas wouldn't hear him."
+
+During this long story Quincy had listened without a smile on his face,
+but the manner in which the last remark was made was too much for him
+and he burst into a loud laugh. Silas, who had been eying him, also gave
+a loud laugh and said with his ponderous voice, "I guess Heppy's been
+tellin' ye about my goin' up."
+
+Quincy laughed again and Mrs. Putnam took part. He arose, told Mr. and
+Mrs. Putnam he had enjoyed his visit very much, was very sorry Miss
+Putnam was not at home, and said he would call again, with their kind
+permission.
+
+"Oh, drop in any time," said Mrs. Putnam; "we're allus to hum. You seem
+to be a nice young man, but you're too young to marry. Why, Lindy's
+twenty-eight, and I tell her she don't know enough to get married yet.
+Ef you'll take a bit of advice from an old woman, let me say, 'less you
+mean to marry the girl yourself, you'd better git away from Deacon
+Mason's."
+
+And with this parting shot ringing in his ears, he left the house and
+made his way homeward.
+
+In half an hour after Quincy's departure, Lindy Putnam entered the
+sitting-room and facing her mother said with a voice full of passion,
+"Samanthy says Mr. Sawyer called to see me."
+
+Mrs. Putnam answered, "Well, ef ye wanted to see him so much why didn't
+ye stay to hum?"
+
+Lindy continued, "Well, I have told you a dozen times that when people
+come to see me that you are not to invite them in."
+
+"Wall, I didn't," said Mrs. Putnam. "When he found you wuz out he said
+he wanted to see pa and me, and he stayed here more'n an hour."
+
+"Yes," said Lindy, "no doubt you told him all about pa's turning Second
+Advent and how much money I had, and you have killed all my chances."
+
+"Well, I guess not," said Mrs. Putnam. "I told him about your brother
+leavin' yer all his money, and I guess that won't drive him away."
+
+Lindy continued, "Money don't count with him; they say his father is
+worth more than a million dollars."
+
+Mrs. Putnam answered, "Wall, I s'pose there's a dozen or so to divide it
+among."
+
+Lindy said, "Did you tell him who you were going to leave your money
+to?"
+
+"No, I didn't," replied Mrs. Putnam. "But I did tell him that you
+wouldn't get a cent of it."
+
+Lindy sobbed, "I think it is a shame, mother. I like him better than any
+young man I have ever met, and now after what you have told me I sha'n't
+see him again. I have a good mind to leave you for good and all and go
+to Boston to live."
+
+"Wall, you're your own mistress," replied Mrs. Putnam, "and I'm my own
+mistress and pa's. Come to think on't, there was one thing I said to him
+that might sot him against yer."
+
+"What was that?" demanded Lindy fiercely.
+
+"Wall," said Mrs. Putnam, "he said he was twenty-three, and I sort a
+told him incidentally you was twenty-eight. You know yer thirty, and
+p'raps he might object to ye on account of yer age."
+
+This was too much for Lindy. She rushed out of the room and up to her
+chamber, where she threw herself on her bed in a passion of tears.
+
+"It's too bad," she cried. "I will see him again, I will find some way,
+and I'll win him yet, even if I am twenty-eight."
+
+Two days afterwards Hiram told Mandy that he heard down to Hill's
+grocery that that city chap had two strings to his bow now. He was
+courting the Deacon's daughter, but had been up to see Mr. and Mrs.
+Putnam to find out how much money Lindy had in her own right, and to see
+if there was any prospect of getting anything out of the old folks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+VILLAGE GOSSIP.
+
+
+After supper on the day he had been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, Quincy
+went to his room and wrote a long letter to his father, inquiring if he
+ever had an uncle by the name of James Sawyer. Before retiring he sat
+and thought over the experiences of the past fortnight since his arrival
+in Eastborough, but the most of his thoughts were given to the remark
+made by Mrs. Putnam about his leaving Deacon Mason's. He had been
+uniformly polite and to a slight degree attentive to Miss Mason. The
+Deacon's horse was a slow one, and so on several occasions he had hired
+a presentable rig and a good stepper over to Eastborough Centre, and had
+taken Miss Mason out to ride. He reflected now, as he had never done
+before, that of course the whole town knew this, and the thought came
+home to him strongly that by so doing he might have inflicted a triple
+injury upon Miss Mason, Mr. Pettingill, and himself. He was not in love
+with Miss Mason, nor Miss Putnam; they were both pretty girls, and in
+the city it was the custom to be attentive to pretty girls without
+regard to consequences.
+
+He had asked Miss Mason to go riding with him the next day, but he
+inwardly resolved that it would be the last time he would take her, and
+he was in doubt whether to go back to the city at once or go to some
+other town and board at a hotel, or look around and find some other
+place in Eastborough. One consideration kept him from leaving
+Eastborough; he knew that if he did so the singing-master would claim
+that he had driven him out of town, and although he had a hearty
+contempt for the man, he was too high spirited to leave town and give
+the people any reason to think that Strout's antipathy to him had
+anything to do with it.
+
+Finally a bright idea struck him. Why hadn't he thought of it before? He
+would go and see Uncle Ike, state the case frankly and ask him to let
+him live with him for a month. He could bunk in the kitchen, and he
+preferred Uncle Ike's conversation to that of any other of the male sex
+whom he had met in Eastborough. With this idea firmly fixed in his mind
+he retired and slept peacefully.
+
+While Quincy was debating with himself and coming to the conclusion
+previously mentioned, another conversation, in which his name often
+occurred, took place in Deacon Mason's kitchen.
+
+The old couple were seated by the old-fashioned fireplace, in which a
+wood fire was burning. The stove had superseded the hanging crane and
+the tin oven for cooking purposes, but Deacon Mason clung to the
+old-fashioned fireplace for heat and light. The moon was high and its
+rays streamed in through the windows, the curtains of which had not been
+drawn.
+
+For quite a while they sat in silence, then Deacon Mason said, "There is
+something I want to speak about, mother, and yet I don't want to. I know
+there is nothing to it and nothing likely to come of it, but the fact
+is, mother, Huldy's bein' talked about down to the Corner, 'cause Mr.
+Sawyer is boardin' here. You know she goes out ridin' with him, which
+ain't no harm, and she has a sort o' broken with 'Zekiel, for which I am
+sorry, for 'Zekiel is one of the likely young men of the town."
+
+"So I do, father," said Mrs. Mason, "and if you don't meddle, things
+will come out all right. Mr. Sawyer don't care nothing for Huldy, and I
+don't think she cares anything for him. He will be going back to the
+city in a little while and then things will be all right again."
+
+"Well," said the Deacon, "I think Huldy better stop goin' out to ride
+with him anyway; she is high spirited, and if I tell her not to go
+she'll want to know why."
+
+"But," broke in Mrs. Mason, "ef you tell him won't he want to know why?"
+
+"Well, perhaps," said the Deacon, "but I will speak to him anyway."
+
+The next morning after breakfast Deacon Mason asked Mr. Sawyer to step
+into the parlor, and remarking that when he had anything to say he
+always said it right out, he asked Quincy if he was on good terms with
+Mr. 'Zekiel Pettengill.
+
+"I don't know," said Quincy. "I don't know of anything that I have done
+at which he could take offence, but he keeps away from me, and when I do
+meet him and speak to him, a 'yes' or 'no' is all I get in reply."
+
+"Haven't you any idea what makes him treat you so?" asked the Deacon.
+
+Quincy flushed.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Mason, I think I do know, but it never entered my mind until
+late yesterday afternoon, and then it was called to my attention by a
+stranger. I am glad I have this chance to speak to you, Mr. Mason, for
+while I have had a very enjoyable time here, I have decided to find
+another boarding place, and I shall leave just as soon as I make the
+necessary arrangements."
+
+The Deacon was a little crestfallen at having the business taken out of
+his hands so quickly, and saying he was very sorry to have the young man
+go, he sought his wife and told her everything was fixed up and that Mr.
+Sawyer was going away.
+
+Quincy started to leave the house by the front door; in the hallway he
+met Huldy, who had just come down stairs. He had asked her to go to ride
+with him that day, and as he looked at her pretty face he vowed to
+himself that he would not be deprived of that pleasure. It could do no
+harm, for it would be their last ride together and probably their last
+meeting.
+
+He said, "Good morning, Miss Mason," and then added with that tone which
+the society belle considers a matter of course, but which is so pleasing
+to the village maiden, "You look charming this morning, Miss Mason. I
+don't think our ride to-day could make your cheeks any redder than they
+are now." Huldy blushed, making her cheeks a still deeper crimson. "I
+will be here at one o'clock with the team," said Quincy. "Will you be
+ready?"
+
+"Yes," answered Huldy softly.
+
+Quincy raised his hat, and a moment later he was on his way to
+Eastborough Centre.
+
+He walked briskly and thought he would stop at Uncle Ike's and carry out
+the resolution he had made the night before, but as he turned up the
+path that led to the house he saw a man standing on the steps talking to
+Uncle Ike, who stood in the doorway. The young man was Ezekiel
+Pettengill. Shakespeare says,
+
+     "'Tis conscience that makes cowards of us all,"
+
+and although Quincy at heart was a gentleman, he also knew it was not
+quite right for him to take Miss Mason out riding again under the
+circumstances; but young men are often stubborn and Quincy felt a little
+stiff-necked and rebellious that morning.
+
+He reached Eastborough Centre, mailed his father the letter relating to
+Jim Sawyer, and going to the stable, picked out the best rig it could
+supply. He always had the same horse. It was somewhat small in size, but
+a very plump, white mare; she was a good roadster and it was never
+necessary to touch her with the whip. Shake it in the stock and she
+would not forget it for the next two miles. The stable keeper told with
+much unction how two fellows hired her to go from Eastborough Centre to
+Montrose. On their way home they had drunk quite freely at the latter
+place, and thought they would touch the mare up with the whip; they were
+in an open team and the result was that she left them at different
+points along the road and reached home with no further impediment to her
+career than the shafts and the front wheels.
+
+Instead of coming back by the main road which led by Uncle Ike's, Quincy
+went through by what was called The Willows, which increased the
+distance a couple of miles. Nevertheless, it lacked five minutes of one
+o'clock when he drove up to Deacon Mason's front door.
+
+Huldy was all dressed for the occasion, and with a "Good-by, mother," to
+Mrs. Mason, who was in the kitchen, was out the front door, helped into
+the team, and they were off just as the startled matron reached the
+parlor window. Mrs. Mason returned to the kitchen and at that moment the
+Deacon came in from the barn.
+
+"What's the matter, mother?" asked the Deacon, noticing her excited and
+somewhat troubled look.
+
+"Huldy is gone out riding again with Mr. Sawyer," said she.
+
+The Deacon was a good Christian man and didn't swear, but he was
+evidently thinking deeply. Finally he said, "Well, mother, we must make
+the best of it. I'll help him find a boarding place if he don't get one
+by to-morrow."
+
+They had a splendid drive. The air was cool, but not biting, the sun was
+warm, the roads had dried up since the recent thaw, which had removed
+the snow, with the exception of some patches in the fields, and the
+high-topped buggy rolled smoothly over the ground.
+
+They passed through the little square in front of Hill's grocery, and as
+luck would have it, Professor Strout was standing on the platform
+smoking a cigar. Huldy smiled and nodded to him, and Quincy, with true
+politeness, followed a city custom and raised his hat, but the Professor
+did not return the bow, nor the salute, but turning on his heel walked
+into the grocery store.
+
+"Professor Strout is not very polite, is he, Mr. Sawyer?" asked Huldy,
+laughing.
+
+Quincy replied, looking straight ahead, "He has never learned the first
+letter in the alphabet of the art."
+
+Quincy had a disagreeable duty to perform. He enjoyed Miss Huldy's
+company, but she was not the sort of girl he could love enough to make
+his wife. Then the thought came to him, supposing she should fall in
+love with him; that was not impossible, and it must be prevented.
+
+When they were about half a mile from Mason's Corner, on their way home,
+Quincy realized that he could not put the matter off any longer.
+
+Just as he was going to speak to her she turned to him and said, "Let me
+drive the rest of the way home, Mr. Sawyer."
+
+"Oh, no," replied Quincy, "I think I had better keep the reins. You know
+I am responsible for you until you are safe at home."
+
+Huldy pouted. "You think I can't drive," said she, "I have driven horses
+all my life. Please let me, Mr. Sawyer," she added coaxingly. And she
+took the reins from his hands.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "you are now responsible for me and I shall expect
+you to be very careful."
+
+They drove a short distance in silence; then Quincy turned to her and
+said abruptly, "This is our last ride together, Miss Mason."
+
+"Why?" inquired she with an astonished look in her face.
+
+"I am going to leave your very pleasant home to-morrow," said Quincy.
+
+The girl's cheeks paled perceptibly.
+
+"Are you going back to Boston?" she asked.
+
+"No, not for some time," Quincy replied, "but I have had some advice
+given me and I think it best to follow it."
+
+"You have been advised to leave my father's house," said she, holding
+the reins listlessly in her hand.
+
+Quincy said, "You won't be offended if I tell you the whole truth?"
+
+"No; why should I?" asked Huldy.
+
+As she said this she gathered up the reins and gave them a sharp pull.
+The white mare understood this to be a signal to do some good travelling
+and she started off at a brisk trot.
+
+Quincy said, "I was told yesterday by a friend that if I was not a
+marrying man they would advise me to leave Deacon Mason's house at
+once."
+
+The blood shot into Huldy's face at once. He was not a marrying man and
+consequently he was going to leave. He did not care for her or he would
+stay. Then another thought struck her. Perhaps he was going away because
+he was afraid she would fall in love with him.
+
+As the Deacon had said, she was high spirited, and for an instant she
+was filled with indignation. She shut her eyes, and her heart seemed to
+stop its beating. She heard Quincy's voice, "Look out for the curve,
+Miss Mason." She dropped the left rein and mechanically gave the right
+one a strong, sharp pull with both hands. Quincy grasped the reins, but
+it was too late.
+
+Huldy's pull on the right rein had thrown the horse almost at right
+angles to the buggy. The steep hill and sharp curve in the road did the
+rest. The buggy stood for an instant on two wheels, then fell on its
+side with a crash, taking the horse off her feet at the same time.
+
+Huldy pitched forward as the buggy was falling, striking her left arm
+upon the wheel, and then fell into the road. Quincy gave a quick leap
+over the dasher, falling on the prostrate horse, and grasping her by the
+head, pressed it to the ground. The mare lay motionless. Quincy rushed
+to Miss Mason and lifted her to her feet, but found her a dead weight in
+his arms. He looked in her face. She had evidently fainted. Her left arm
+hung by her side in a helpless sort of way; he touched it lightly
+between the elbow and shoulder. It was broken. Grasping her in his arms
+he ran to the back door and burst into the kitchen where Mrs. Mason was
+at work.
+
+Quincy said in quick, excited tones, "There has been an accident, Mrs.
+Mason, and your daughter's arm is broken; she has also fainted. I will
+take her right to her room and put her on her bed. You can bring her out
+of that." Suiting the action to the word, he took Huldy upstairs,
+saying, "I will go for the doctor at once."
+
+Then he dashed down the stairs and out of the front door; as he reached
+the team he found Hiram standing beside it, his eyes wide open with
+astonishment.
+
+"Had a smash-up, Mr. Sawyer?" he asked. "How did it happen?"
+
+"All my carelessness," said Quincy. "Come, give me a lift on the buggy,
+quick."
+
+How it was done Quincy could never tell afterwards, but in a very short
+time the buggy was righted, the mare on her feet and the harness
+adjusted. Hiram took off his cap and began dusting the mare, whose white
+coat showed the dust very plainly.
+
+"Where does the nearest doctor live, Hiram?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Second house up the road you just come down," said Hiram. "The folks
+say he don't know much, anyway."
+
+"Well, you get him here as quick as possible," said Quincy. "I am going
+to Eastborough Centre to telegraph for a surgeon and a trained nurse.
+Can you remember that?"
+
+Quincy passed him a dollar bill.
+
+Hiram winked and said, "I guess I can," and darted off up the hill.
+
+Quincy sprang into the team and the white mare dashed forward at full
+speed. As he reached the Pettengill house he saw Ezekiel standing at the
+front gate. With difficulty he pulled the mare up, for she was greatly
+excited.
+
+"Mr. Pettengill," said he, "there has been a serious accident. Miss
+Mason has been thrown from her carriage and her left arm is broken. I
+sent Hiram for a doctor and I am on my way to Eastborough to telegraph
+to Boston for a surgeon and a nurse. I shall not return to-night. Go up
+to the Deacon's and stay with her."
+
+As he said this the mare gave a bound forward and she never slackened
+pace until Eastborough Centre was reached.
+
+Quincy sent his telegram and returned the injured buggy and the horse to
+the stable keeper, telling him to have it repaired and he would pay the
+bill. He arranged to have a driver and a four-seated team ready on the
+arrival of the train bearing the doctor and the nurse. In about an hour
+he received a telegram that they would leave on the 6.05 express and
+would reach Eastborough Centre at 7.15.
+
+They arrived, and the hired driver, doctor, and nurse started for
+Mason's Corner.
+
+The last train to Boston left at 9.20. Ten minutes before that hour the
+team returned with the doctor.
+
+"She is all right," he said. "Everything has been done for her, and the
+other doctor will write me when my services are needed again. Good
+night."
+
+The train dashed in and the doctor sped back to Boston.
+
+Quincy had engaged a room at the hotel, and he at once retired to it,
+but not to sleep. He passed the most uncomfortable night that had ever
+come to him.
+
+The next afternoon Hiram told Mandy that he heard Professor Strout say
+to Robert Wood that he guessed that "accident would never have occurred
+if that city chap hadn't been trying to drive hoss with one hand."
+
+Mandy said, "That Strout is a mean old thing, anyway, and if you tell me
+another thing that he says, I'll fill your mouth full o' soft soap, or
+my name isn't Mandy Skinner."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+SOME SAD TIDINGS.
+
+
+The morning of the accident, when Quincy saw Ezekiel Pettengill standing
+on the steps of Uncle Ike's house, Ezekiel was the bearer of some sad
+tidings.
+
+He recognized Quincy as the latter started to come up the path, and saw
+him retrace his steps, and naturally thought, as most men would, that
+the reason Quincy did not come in was because he did not wish to meet
+him.
+
+"Who was you looking after?" asked Uncle Ike, as Ezekiel entered the
+room and closed the door.
+
+"I think it was Mr. Sawyer," replied Ezekiel, "on his way to Eastborough
+Centre."
+
+"That Mr. Sawyer," said Uncle Ike, "is a very level-headed young man. He
+called on me once and I like him very much. Do you know him, 'Zeke?"
+
+"Yes, I know who he is," Ezekiel answered, "but I have never been
+introduced to him. He nods and I nod, or I say, 'good mornin',' and he
+says, 'good mornin'.'"
+
+"Don't you go up to Deacon Mason's as much as you used to, 'Zeke?" asked
+Uncle Ike. "I thought Huldy and you were going to make a match of it."
+
+Ezekiel replied, "Well, to be honest, Uncle Ike, Huldy and me had a
+little tiff, and I haven't seen her to speak to her for more than three
+weeks, but I guess it will all come out all right some day."
+
+"Well, you're on the right track, 'Zeke," said Uncle Ike. "Do all your
+fighting before you get married. But what brings you down here so early
+in the morning?"
+
+"I've got some bad news," replied Ezekiel. "Have you heard from Alice
+lately?"
+
+"No," said Uncle Ike, "and I can't understand it. She has always written
+to me once a fortnight, and it's a month now since I heard from her, and
+she has sent me a book every Christmas until this last one."
+
+"She has been very sick, Uncle Ike," said Ezekiel. "She was taken down
+about the middle of December and was under the doctor's care for three
+weeks."
+
+"Is she better?" asked Uncle Ike eagerly.
+
+"Yes, she is up again," said Ezekiel, "but she is very weak; but that
+ain't the worst of it," he added.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?" asked Uncle Ike. "Why didn't her friends let
+us know?"
+
+"She wouldn't let them," said Ezekiel. "If it hadn't been for what the
+eye doctor told her she wouldn't have telegraphed to me what she did."
+
+"Well, what's the matter with her?" cried Uncle Ike almost fiercely.
+
+"Well, Uncle Ike," said Ezekiel, and the tears stood in his eyes as he
+said it, "our Allie is almost blind, but the eye doctor says she will
+get better, but it will take a very long time. She has had to give up
+her job, and I am going to Boston again to-morrow to bring her home to
+the old house."
+
+"What's the matter with her eyes?" asked Uncle Ike.
+
+"He called them cataracts," said Ezekiel, "or something like that."
+
+Uncle Ike sat down in his armchair and thought for a minute or two.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I know what they are; I have read all about them, and I
+know people who have had them. One was a schoolmate of mine. He was a
+mighty smart fellow and I felt sorry for him and used to help him out in
+his studies. I heard he had his eyes operated on and recovered his
+sight."
+
+"Well, the doctor she has," said Ezekiel, "is agin operations. He says
+they can be cured without them. She drops something in her eyes and
+blows something in them, and then the tears come, and then she sits
+quietly with her hands folded, thinking, I suppose, till the time comes
+to use the medicine again."
+
+"What can I do to help you?" asked Uncle Ike. "You know I always loved
+Alice even better than I did my own children, because she is more
+lovable, I suppose. Now, 'Zeke, if you want any money for doctor's bills
+or anything else, I am ready to do everything in the world I can for
+Alice. Did she ask after me, 'Zeke?"
+
+"Almost the first thing she said was, 'How is dear old Uncle Ike?' and
+then she said how glad she would be to get back to Eastborough, where
+she could have you to talk to. 'I am lonesome now,' she said, 'I cannot
+write nor read, and the time passes so slowly with no one to talk to.'"
+
+"But the poor dear girl can't walk down here to see me," said Uncle Ike.
+
+"That's just what I came to see you about," said Ezekiel. "The greatest
+favor you can do Alice and me is to come up to the old house and live
+with us for a while and be company for Alice. You can have the big front
+room that father and mother used to have, and Alice's room, you know, is
+just side of that. In a little while I shall have to be busy on the farm
+and poor Alice--"
+
+"Don't talk any more about it, 'Zeke," said Uncle Ike. "Of course I'll
+come. She will do me as much good as I'll do her. Send down the boys
+with the team to-morrow noon and I'll be all settled by the time you get
+back."
+
+"I'll do it," said Ezekiel. "It is very good of you. Uncle Ike, to give
+up your little home here that you like so much and come to live with us.
+I know you wouldn't do it for anybody but Alice, and I'll leave her to
+thank you when she gets down here."
+
+Uncle Ike and Ezekiel shook hands warmly.
+
+"Don't you need any money, 'Zeke?" asked Uncle Ike.
+
+"No," replied Ezekiel. "Alice wouldn't let me pay out a cent; she had
+some money saved up in the bank and she insisted on paying for
+everything herself. She wouldn't come home till I promised 'her I'd let
+her pay her board when she got able to work again."
+
+"She always was independent," said Uncle Ike, "and that was one reason
+why I liked her. But more than that, she is the fairest-minded and
+best-tempered woman I ever met in my life, and I have seen a good many."
+
+Ezekiel shook hands again with Uncle Ike, and then started off briskly
+with a much lighter heart than he had before the interview. Reaching
+home he astonished Mandy Skinner by telling her that he was going to
+bring his sister down from Boston and that Uncle Ike was coming to live
+with them for a while.
+
+"My Lord!" cried Mandy, "and do you expect me to do all this extra
+work?"
+
+"I don't expect nothing," said Ezekiel. "You can get old Mrs. Crowley to
+come and do the heavy work, and I guess you can get along. You allus
+said you liked her, she was such a nice washer and ironer. She can have
+the little room over the ell, and I'll give you a dollar a week extra
+for your trouble. Do you think you can get along, Mandy?"
+
+Mandy answered, "I know I can with your sister all right, but if your
+Uncle Ike comes out here in the kitchen and tells me how to roast meat
+and make pies, as he did once, there will be trouble, and he may have to
+do all the cooking."
+
+Ezekiel smiled, but said nothing, and went off upstairs to look at the
+two rooms that were to be occupied by Uncle Ike and poor Allie.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+LOOKING FOR A BOARDING PLACE.
+
+
+When Quincy awoke in his room at the hotel on the morning after the
+accident he found to his great surprise that it was nine o'clock. He
+arose and dressed quickly, and after a light breakfast started off
+towards Uncle Ike's. Reaching the house he was astonished at the sight
+that met his gaze. Everything was out of place. The bed was down and the
+bedding tied up in bundles; the books had been taken from the bookcase
+and had been piled up on the table. There was no fire in the stove, and
+the funnel was laid upon the top of it. Quincy had remembered that he
+had seen a pile of soot on the ground near the steps as he came up them.
+All of Uncle Ike's cooking utensils were packed in a soap box which
+stood near the stove.
+
+"What's the matter, Mr. Pettengill, are you going to move?" asked
+Quincy.
+
+"For a time at least," replied Uncle Ike. "'Zeke Pettengill's sister has
+been struck blind and he is going to bring her down home this afternoon
+and I am going to live with them and be company for her. I always
+thought as much of Alice as if she was my own daughter, and now she is
+in trouble, her old uncle isn't going back on her. It isn't Ike
+Pettengill's way."
+
+"Have you seen 'Zekiel Pettengill this morning?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No, nor I didn't expect to," replied Uncle Ike. "I suppose he went to
+Boston on the nine o'clock train and will be back on the three o'clock
+express."
+
+"Mr. Pettengill," said Quincy, "can you give me fifteen minutes' time
+for a talk?"
+
+"Well," said Uncle Ike, looking at his watch, "it will be half an hour
+before Cobb's twins will be down here with the team, and I might as well
+listen to you as sit around and do nothing. They are coming down again
+by and by to get the chickens. I have a good mind to set the house on
+fire and burn it up. If I don't, I suppose some tramp will, and if I
+need another house like it, thank the Lord I've got money enough to
+build it."
+
+"No, don't burn it up, Mr. Pettengill," said Quincy. "Let it to me. I am
+around looking for a boarding place myself."
+
+"Why, what's the matter, what made you leave Deacon Mason's?"
+
+"That's what I want to tell you," said Quincy. "Time is limited and I'll
+make my story short, but you are a friend of my father's, and I want you
+to understand the whole business."
+
+"Why, what have you been up to?" asked Uncle Ike, opening his eyes.
+
+"Nothing," said Quincy, "and that's the trouble. When I went to Deacon
+Mason's nobody told me that his daughter was engaged to Ezekiel
+Pettengill."
+
+"And she isn't," interjected Uncle Ike.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "they have been keeping company together, but I
+didn't know it. Miss Mason is a pretty girl and a very pleasant one.
+Time hung heavily on my hands and I naturally paid her some attentions;
+gave her flowers and candy, and took her out to ride, but I never
+thought of falling in love with her, and I am not conceited enough to
+think she is in love with me."
+
+"Well, I don't know," said Uncle Ike reflectively. "Perhaps she has
+heard your father was worth a million dollars."
+
+"No, I don't believe that," said Quincy. "Miss Mason is too true and
+honest a girl to marry a man simply for his money."
+
+"Well, I think you are right there," remarked Uncle Ike.
+
+"New Year's night," said Quincy, "at the concert in the Town Hall,
+Strout, the singing teacher, got down on me because Miss Putnam and I
+received so much applause for singing a duet together. Then I broke his
+heart by whistling a tune for the girls and boys, and then again he
+doesn't like me because I am from the city! he hired a fellow to whip
+me, but the fellow didn't know how to box and I knocked him out very
+quickly. Now that Strout can't hurt me any other way he has gone to work
+making up lies, and the village is full of gossip about Miss Mason and
+me. Deacon Mason was going to talk to me about it, but I told him
+yesterday morning that I was going to get another boarding place, and I
+should have done so yesterday but for a very unfortunate accident."
+
+"Accident?" said Uncle Ike; "why, you seem to be all right."
+
+"I wish I had been the victim," said Quincy, "instead of Miss Mason. I
+took her out riding yesterday and the buggy got tipped over right in
+front of Deacon Mason's house, and Miss Mason had her left arm broken
+above the elbow. I have done all I could to atone for my carelessness,
+but I am afraid 'Zeke Pettengill will never forgive me. I wish, Mr.
+Pettengill, you would make him understand my position in the matter. I
+would like to be good friends with him, for I have nothing against him.
+He is the most gentlemanly young man that I have seen in the town. I
+value his good opinion and I want him to understand that I haven't
+intentionally done anything to wrong or injure him."
+
+Uncle Ike covered his eyes with his hands and mused for a few minutes;
+then he finally said, "Mr. Sawyer, I have got an idea. That fellow,
+Strout, thinks he runs this town, and it would tickle him to death if
+he thought he made things uncomfortable for you. Then, again, I happen
+to know that he is sweet on Huldy Mason himself, and he would do all he
+could to widen the breach between 'Zeke and her. You see, he isn't but
+forty himself, and he wouldn't mind the difference in ages at all. Now,
+my plan is this." Uncle Ike looked out the window and said, "Here comes
+Cobb's twins with the team. Now we will take, my things up to the house,
+then you take the team and go up to Deacon Mason's and get your trunk
+and bring it down to Pettengill's house. You will be my guest for
+to-night, anyway, and if I don't make things right with 'Zeke so you can
+stay there, I'll fix it anyway so you can stay till you get a place to
+suit you. Now don't say no, Mr. Sawyer. Your father and I are old
+friends and he will sort o' hold me responsible for your good treatment.
+I won't take no for an answer. If you have no objections, Mr. Sawyer, I
+wish you would keep your eye on those books when they are put into the
+team, for those Cobb boys handle everything as though it was a rock or a
+tree stump." And Uncle Ike, taking his kerosene lamp in one hand and his
+looking glass in the other, cried, "Come in," as one of the Cobb boys
+knocked on the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A VISIT TO THE VICTIM.
+
+
+It was not until Quincy had reached the Pettengill house and helped
+Uncle Ike get his things in order, that he finally decided to accept
+Uncle Ike's offer. If he went to Eastborough Centre to live at the
+hotel, he knew Strout would consider he had won a victory. He had
+thought of going to Mr. and Mrs. Putnam about a room and board, but then
+he remembered Lindy, and said to himself that Miss Putnam was a pretty
+girl and it would be the same old story over again. Then he thought,
+"There won't be any danger here with a blind girl and Mandy Skinner, and
+if Uncle Ike can arrange matters it will be the best thing I can do."
+
+And so he drove up to Deacon Mason's with Cobb's twins, saw Mrs. Mason,
+went upstairs and packed his trunk quickly, and the Cobb boys drove away
+with it to his new, though perhaps only temporary, lodgings.
+
+When Quincy went downstairs, Mrs. Mason was in the parlor, and she
+beckoned to him to come in. He entered and closed the door.
+
+"I want to speak to you a few minutes," said she, "and I want to tell
+you first I don't blame you a bit. I know you told 'Zeke Pettengill that
+the tip-over was all your carelessness, but Huldy says it ain't so. She
+said she was driving, though you didn't want her to, and the accident
+was all her fault. Now, I believe my daughter tells the truth, and the
+Deacon thinks so too."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Mason," said Quincy, "what your daughter says is partly
+true, but I am still to blame for allowing her to drive a horse with
+which she was not acquainted."
+
+"That warn't the trouble, Mr. Sawyer," said Mrs. Mason. "Huldy told me
+the whole truth. You said something to her about going away. She had
+heard what the village gossips were saying. Huldy's got a high temper
+and she was so mad that she got flustrated, and that's what caused all
+the trouble. I like you, Mr. Sawyer, and Huldy likes you. She says you
+have allus been a perfect gentleman, and the Deacon now is awful sorry
+you are going, but I hope you will come and see us often while you stay
+at Mason's Corner."
+
+"I certainly shall, Mrs. Mason," replied Quincy. "How is Miss Mason?"
+
+"Oh, she is fust rate," said the Deacon's wife. "That doctor from the
+city fixed her arm all up in what he called a jacket, and that nurse
+that you sent just seems to know what Huldy wants before she can ask for
+it I hear them nurses are awful expensive, and I don't think she better
+stay but a day or two longer."
+
+"She can't leave till the surgeon comes from Boston and says she can
+go," he remarked, thinking this was the easiest way to get out of it.
+"May I see Miss Mason?" he added.
+
+"Certainly," replied Mrs. Mason. "She is in the front chamber. We moved
+her in there 'cause there is a fireplace in the room and the nurse
+objected to the wood stove that Huldy had in her room. She said it was
+either too hot or too cold, and that Huldy must have an even
+temperature."
+
+As Quincy entered the room Huldy looked up and a faint smile lighted her
+face. Her usually rosy cheeks showed only a faint touch of pink. The
+helpless left arm, in its plaster of paris jacket, rested on the outside
+of the white quilt, the fingers on her little hand projecting beyond the
+covering.
+
+Quincy advanced to the bedside and took a vacant chair. The nurse was
+sitting by the window. She glanced up at him and at Mrs. Mason, who
+followed close behind him, but continued the reading of her book.
+
+Quincy said lightly, as he reached over and took the right hand and gave
+it a little shake, "You're not shaking hands with the left, Miss Mason."
+
+"No," said Huldy, "I wish I could shake it, but nurse says it will have
+to stay on for two or three weeks, and it is so heavy, Mr. Sawyer."
+
+Mrs. Mason went to the nurse and whispered to her, "Don't let him stay
+too long." The nurse nodded and Mrs. Mason left the room.
+
+Quincy said in a low tone, as he sat in the chair by the bedside, "Miss
+Mason, I can't express my sorrow for this unfortunate occurrence. Your
+mother says you have told her it was your fault. But I insisted it was
+my fault in allowing you to drive a strange horse."
+
+Huldy smiled. "It wasn't the horse, Mr. Sawyer," she said, and quickly
+changing the subject asked, "Where are you going to board now?".
+
+"Old Uncle Ike Pettengill has taken pity on me," replied Quincy,
+thinking he would not say anything about going to Ezekiel Pettengill's
+house.
+
+"But," said Huldy, "Zekiel called here this morning before he went to
+Boston for his sister and told me that Uncle Ike was coming to live with
+him. Didn't I hear them take your trunk away a little while ago?"
+
+Quincy saw it was useless to prevaricate, so he said, "My trunk was
+taken to Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill's house."
+
+"I hope you and 'Zekiel will be good friends," said Huldy, with a grave
+look on her face.
+
+"I trust we may become so," remarked Quincy. "I am afraid we are not
+now, and I am still more afraid it is my fault that we are not on the
+best of terms."
+
+Huldy turned her face towards him, a red flush coloring her cheeks and
+brow. "No," she said, with vehemence, "it was my fault, and you know it,
+Mr. Sawyer. How you must hate me for having caused you so much trouble."
+She gave a convulsive sob and burst into a flood of tears.
+
+Quincy was on the point of assuring Huldy that he could never hate her
+and that they would always be good friends, but he had no opportunity to
+frame the words.
+
+As Huldy sobbed and began to cry, the nurse jumped to her feet, dropped
+her book on the floor, and came quickly to the bedside. She said
+nothing, but the look upon her face convinced Quincy that he must wait
+for a more auspicious moment to declare his friendly sentiment. So with
+a "Good-by, Miss Mason, I'll call again soon," he quitted the apartment
+and left the victim to the ministrations of the nurse.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+A QUIET EVENING.
+
+
+After the somewhat exciting termination of his interview with Miss
+Mason, Quincy left the house quickly and walked down to Ezekiel
+Pettengill's. Uncle Ike was there and he told Mandy to show Mr. Sawyer
+to his room, which proved to be the big front one upstairs.
+
+When he was alone, Quincy sank into the capacious rocking chair and fell
+to thinking. His mind went back to his parting with Miss Mason. She had
+said that it wasn't the horse, so it must have been what he said to her.
+Was she angry because he had decided to go in order to stop village
+gossip, or had she really cared for him? Well, it was over now. He would
+never know what her real feelings were, and after all it was best for
+him not to know. He would drop the whole matter where it was. Then he
+began to think about his present position. Here he was located in the
+house of the man who would naturally be considered the last one to
+desire his company.
+
+Uncle Ike had told him that he would make it all right. If he failed in
+this and Ezekiel objected to his remaining he could move again. He was
+determined not to leave Mason's Corner till he got ready, and he felt
+sure he would not be ready to go until he had squared accounts with
+Strout.
+
+Presently he heard the sound of wheels. The Pettengill house faced the
+south and Eastborough Centre lay west of Mason's Corner, so he could not
+see the team when it arrived, as it drove up to the back door, but he
+knew that Ezekiel had arrived with his sister. Uncle Ike and Cobb's
+twins went down stairs quickly; there was a jumble of voices, and then
+the party entered the house. A short time after he heard persons moving
+in the room adjoining his, and guessed that Ezekiel's sister was to
+occupy it.
+
+Then he fell to imagining the conversation that was doubtless going on
+between Uncle Ike and his nephew. Quincy was not naturally nervous, but
+he did not like suspense; almost unconsciously he arose and walked back
+and forth across the room several times. Then it occurred to him that
+probably the uncle and nephew were having their conversation in the
+parlor, which was right under him, and he curbed his impatience and
+threw himself into the armchair, which stood near the open fireplace.
+
+As he did so there came a sharp rap at the door. In response to the
+quick uttered "Come in," the door opened and Uncle Ike entered. He came
+forward, took a seat in the rocking chair near Quincy and passed him two
+letters.
+
+Quincy looked up inquiringly. He had had his mail sent to Eastborough
+Centre, where he had hired a box. At the Mason's Corner post office the
+letters were stuck upon a rack, where every one could see them, and
+Quincy did not care to have the loungers at Hill's grocery inspecting
+his correspondence.
+
+Uncle Ike saw the look and understood it. Then he said, "'Zekiel brought
+these over from Eastborough Centre. He didn't want to, but the
+postmaster said one of them was marked 'In haste,' and he had been over
+to the hotel and found that you had gone to Mason's Corner, and probably
+wouldn't be back to-day, and so he thought 'Zekiel better bring it
+over."
+
+"It was very kind of Mr. Pettengill," said Quincy, "and I wish you would
+thank him for me."
+
+In the meantime he had glanced at his letters. One bore, printed in the
+corner, the names, Sawyer, Crowninshield, & Lawrence, Counsellors at
+Law, Court Street, Boston, Mass. That was from his father. The other was
+directed in a feminine hand and bore the postmark, Mason's Corner, Mass.
+He could not imagine from whom it could be.
+
+"I have had a talk with 'Zekiel," said Uncle Ike, "and the whole matter
+is satisfactorily arranged; he is a fair-minded young fellow and he
+don't believe you have done anything with the intention of injuring him.
+What did you pay up to Deacon Mason's?"
+
+"Five dollars a week," replied Quincy.
+
+"Well, it will be the same here," said Uncle Ike. "You can stay as long
+as you like. 'Zeke wouldn't charge you anything, but I said no, you have
+got to look out for your sister, and Mr. Sawyer can afford to pay."
+
+Quincy broke in, "And I wouldn't stay unless I did pay. I am able and
+willing to pay more, if he will take it."
+
+"Not a cent more," said Uncle Ike. "He will give you your money's worth,
+and then one won't owe the other anything. When you come down to supper
+I'll introduce you, just as if you had never seen each other, and you
+can both take a fresh start."
+
+Uncle Ike arose. "By the time you have read your letters supper will be
+ready, and I want to go in and have a talk with Alice. She is my only
+niece, Mr. Sawyer, and I think she is the finest girl in Massachusetts,
+and, as far as I know, there ain't any better one in the whole world;"
+and Uncle Ike went out, closing the door behind him.
+
+Quincy resumed his seat by the window. The light had faded considerably,
+but he could still see to read. Naturally enough he first opened the
+letter bearing the feminine handwriting. He looked at the signature
+first of all and read "Lucinda Putnam." "What can she have to write to
+me about?" he thought. He read the letter:
+
+Mason's Corner, January 22, 186--
+
+My dear Mr. Sawyer:--I regret very much that I was absent when you
+called, but am glad to learn from mother that you had a pleasant visit.
+Although you are from the city I am sure you would blush if you could
+hear the nice things mother said about you. I am conceited enough to
+think that you will find time to call on us again soon, for I wish to
+consult you regarding an important business matter. I am going to Boston
+next Monday in relation to this business and if you could make it
+convenient to call before then it would be greatly appreciated by
+
+Yours very truly,
+LUCINDA PUTNAM.
+
+Quincy reflected. "What is she up to? Some legal business, I suppose.
+Well, I am not practising law now; I shall have to refer her to--"
+
+He took up the other letter and read, "Sawyer, Crowninshield, &
+Lawrence."
+
+His father's letter read as follows:
+
+Boston, January 21, 186--
+
+My dear Son:--Yours at hand, and inquiries carefully noted. I had a
+brother, James Edward Sawyer; he was five years older than I and must be
+about sixty. Father wished him to study law, but he wouldn't study
+anything. When father died he got his share of the money, about $50,000,
+but he squandered the most of it in high living. The next we heard of
+him he had married a country girl named Eunice Raymond, I think. He
+brought her to Boston and tried to introduce her into the society he had
+been brought up in. She was a nice, pretty woman, but uneducated, and
+naturally bashful, and James finally left the city and went to live
+somewhere in the country, I never knew where! he never wrote me after
+leaving Boston. This Jim Sawyer may be your uncle. I hope not, but if he
+is, remember he is my brother, and if he needs any assistance let me
+know at once. I hope your health is improving. Your mother and sisters
+are well and send love, as does also
+
+Your affectionate father,
+NATHANIEL ADAMS SAWYER.
+
+As Quincy finished his second letter there was another rap at the door
+and Mandy's voice was heard outside saying, "Supper's ready, Mr.
+Saw--yer."
+
+Quincy jumped to his feet. He had not unlocked his trunk, as he was not
+certain that it would be worth while to do so. It was but the work of a
+few moments to make the necessary changes in his toilet. He put on a
+black Prince Albert coat in place of a sack coat that he usually wore,
+but before he had completed this change there came another tap on the
+door, and Mandy's voice was heard saying, "The things will get cold if
+you don't come down right away."
+
+As Quincy entered the large room which was used for a dining-room, he
+was met by Uncle Ike. Ezekiel was standing a short distance from his
+uncle. Uncle Ike said, "'Zekiel, this is my friend, Mr. Sawyer. Mr.
+Sawyer, this is my nephew, 'Zekiel Pettengill. I am good friends with
+both of you, and I hope you will be good friends to each other."
+
+The two men shook hands. If each had any idea of what the other was
+thinking about he did not betray it by look or act.
+
+Uncle Ike continued, "Mr. Sawyer, this is Jim Cobb and this is Bill
+Cobb, and this," as Mandy entered bearing something for the table, "is
+Miss Mandy Skinner. Now that we are all acquainted, I think we had all
+better introduce ourselves at once to the supper. I haven't done such a
+hard day's work for sixteen years."
+
+Ezekiel insisted upon Uncle Ike taking the head of the table. He
+motioned Mr. Sawyer to take the second seat from his uncle on the right,
+while he took the first seat on the left, with Cobb's twins next to him.
+
+Quincy immediately surmised that when the sister appeared at the table
+she would probably sit between him and Uncle Ike.
+
+The meal was not a very lively one as far as conversation went. Quincy
+inquired politely concerning Miss Pettengill's health, and Uncle Ike
+said she was tired after her trip, and Mandy was going to take her
+supper up to her.
+
+The meal was plentiful and well cooked. Quincy thought to himself, how
+much brighter it would have looked, and how much better the food would
+have tasted if Miss Huldy Mason had been present with her pretty face,
+joyous laugh, and occasional bright sayings.
+
+After supper the things were quickly taken out by Mandy. The white
+tablecloth was removed, and one in which the prevailing color was bright
+red took its place.
+
+The three men drew up to the open fireplace. Uncle Ike pulled out his
+pipe and said, "Do you allow smoking here, 'Zeke?"
+
+'Zekiel replied, "I wish you and Mr. Sawyer to make yourselves perfectly
+at home and do just as you would if you were in your own house."
+
+"Well, if I did that," said Uncle Ike, "you wouldn't need Mandy, for I
+should be chief cook and bottle washer myself."
+
+Uncle Ike lighted his pipe, and Ezekiel took a cigar from his pocket,
+saying, "I guess I'll smoke, too." Then his face reddened. He said, "Beg
+pardon, Mr. Sawyer, I have only this one."
+
+"That's all right," rejoined Quincy, "a cigar would be too heavy for me
+to-night. I have a slight headache, and if you will excuse me I will
+roll a cigarette."
+
+He took his little case of rice paper from his pocket and also a small
+pouch of tobacco, and deftly made and lighted a cigarette. The three men
+sat smoking, and as Quincy blew a ring into the air he wondered what Sir
+Walter Raleigh would have said if he could have looked in upon them.
+
+Quincy broke the silence. "I am afraid, Uncle Ike, that I have caused
+you much inconvenience by driving you out of that pleasant front room
+where I found my trunk."
+
+"Not a bit," replied Uncle Ike. "I hate carpets, and I prefer to sleep
+in my own bed, and what's more, I wanted to put up my stove, and there
+was no chance in that front room. When real cold weather comes I always
+have a ton of coal for my stove, so I am much better off where I am than
+I would be downstairs. By the way, 'Zeke, just tell me all about Alice
+again. You won't mind Mr. Sawyer; he is one of the family now."
+
+"Well," said Ezekiel, "Alice was taken sick about the middle of
+December. The folks where she boarded sent for a doctor. It was about
+eight o'clock in the morning when she was taken, and it was noon before
+she got easy, so they could get her to bed. She thought she was getting
+better; then, she had another attack; then she thought she was getting
+better again, and the third attack was the worst of the three. The folks
+wanted to write to me, but she wouldn't let them. When she really did
+begin to get better, she found out there was something that was worse
+than being sick. She found she couldn't see to read either print or
+writing, but Alice is a spunky girl, and she wouldn't give in, even
+then. A friend told her to go and see Dr. Moses, who was an eye doctor,
+and put herself right under his treatment. She thought she was going to
+get well right off at first, but when she found it was likely to be a
+long job, then she gave in and wrote to me. She has brought her
+treatment down with her, and the doctor says she will have to go to
+Boston once a month to see him, as he is too busy to come down here."
+
+At this point in the proceedings the door opened and Mandy entered,
+bringing a large dish of big red apples and another full of cracked
+shellbarks. She left the room and returned almost immediately with a
+large dish full of popcorn.
+
+"Have an apple?" said Ezekiel. "Help yourselves; we don't pass anything
+round here. We put the things on the table and each one helps himself."
+
+Mandy came in again, bringing a large pitcher of cider and some glasses,
+which she placed upon the table.
+
+While the three men were discussing their country evening lunch in
+silence, an animated conversation was taking place in the kitchen, the
+participants being Mandy, Mrs. Bridget Crowley, and Hiram, who always
+dropped in during the evening to get his glass of cider, a luxury that
+was not dispensed at Deacon Mason's.
+
+"Well," said Mandy, "I think it's wasteful extravagance for you Irish
+folks to spend so much money on carriages when one of your friends
+happens to die. As you just said, when you lived in Boston you own up
+you spent fourteen dollars in one month going to funerals, and you paid
+a dollar a seat each time."
+
+"I did that," said Mrs. Crowley, "and I earned every bit of it doing
+washing, for Pat, bless his sowl, was out of work at the time."
+
+"Just think of that!" said Mandy, turning to Hiram.
+
+"Well, it can't be helped," said Mrs. Crowley, obstinately. "Shure and
+if I don't go to folks' funerals they won't come to mine."
+
+This was too much for Mandy and Hiram, and they began laughing, which so
+incensed Mrs. Crowley that she trudged off to her little room in the
+ell, which departure just suited Mandy and Hiram.
+
+[Illustration: "MANDY SKINNER," AS SHE APPEARS IN THE PLAY.]
+
+"Have you got any soft soap here in the kitchen?" asked Hiram.
+
+"No," said Mandy, "I used the last this afternoon. I shall have to go
+out in the shed to-morrow morning and get some."
+
+"You wouldn't be likely to go out to-night for any?" asked Hiram.
+
+"I guess not," said Mandy. "Why, there is rats out in that shed as big
+as kittens. Did you want to use some?"
+
+"No," said Hiram, "but I didn't want you to have any 'round handy, for I
+am bound to tell you I heard Strout telling the minister's son that
+Lindy Putnam writ a letter to Mr. Sawyer and mailed it at Mason's Corner
+post office this mornin', and it was directed to Eastborough Centre, and
+Strout said it looked as though they were keeping up correspondence. I
+tell you that made 'Manuel Howe mad, for he's gone on Lindy Putnam
+himself, and then Strout said that probably all the fellers in town
+would have to put off getting married until that city chap had decided
+which one of the girls he wanted himself. And now, hang it," said Hiram,
+"he has come to live in this house, and I sha'n't have any peace of
+mind."
+
+Hiram dodged the first apple Mandy threw at his head, but the second one
+hit him squarely, and he gave a loud "Oh!"
+
+"Stop your noise," said Mandy, "or Mr. Pettengill will be out here. I'll
+ask them if they want anything else," as she rapped on the door. There
+was no response and she opened it and looked in. "Why, they have all
+gone to bed," she said. At that moment the old clock in the kitchen
+struck nine. "It's nine o'clock and you had better be going home, Hiram
+Maxwell."
+
+"I shall have to get some anarchy to put on my forehead," said Hiram.
+"See that big bump, Mandy, that you made."
+
+Mandy approached him quite closely and looked at his forehead; as she
+did so she turned up her nose and puckered her mouth. Her arms were
+hanging by her side. Hiram grasped her around the waist, holding both of
+her arms tight, and before Mandy could break away he gave her a kiss
+full on the mouth.
+
+He made a quick rush for the door, opened it and dashed out into the
+night. Luckily for him there was no moon and he was out of sight before
+Mandy could recover her self-possession and reach the door. She peered
+out into the darkness for a moment; then she closed the door and bolted
+it, took a lamp and went up to her own room. Standing in front of her
+looking glass, she turned up her nose and puckered up her mouth as she
+had done when facing Hiram.
+
+"That's the first time Hiram Maxwell ever kissed me," she said to
+herself, "Mebbe it will be the last time and mebbe it won't." Then she
+said reflectively, "I didn't think the little fellow had so much spunk
+in him."
+
+In a quarter of an hour she was dreaming of cupids, and hearts, and
+arrows, and St. Valentine's Day, which was not so very far away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+A LONG LOST RELATIVE.
+
+
+Ezekiel Pettengill owned what Deacon Mason did not--a nice carryall and
+a good road horse. Ezekiel would fix no price, but Quincy would not
+drive him unless he paid for the use of the team. One dollar for half a
+day, two dollars for a whole day, were the prices finally fixed upon.
+
+Quincy drove first to Mrs. Putnam's. As he was ascending the steps the
+front door was opened and Lindy stood there to welcome him, which she
+did by extending her hand and then showing him into the parlor. She was
+evidently on the point of going out, for she had on her outdoor
+garments. After a few commonplaces relating to health and the weather,
+Quincy abruptly approached the object of his visit by saying, "I
+received your letter, Miss Putnam, and I have come to see if I can be of
+any service to you."
+
+"Oh! I know you can," said Lindy; "you are wealthy--"
+
+"I beg your pardon," interposed Quincy, "I am not what they call a
+wealthy young man; the fact that my father is possessed of a large
+fortune has probably given rise to the incorrect impression just
+repeated by you."
+
+"I understand," said Lindy, with a laugh. "What I meant to say was, that
+you are undoubtedly acquainted with wealthy gentlemen, who know the best
+ways of investing money. I find my money a great trouble to me," she
+continued. "I had $25,000 invested in a first mortgage, but the property
+has been sold and the money repaid to me, and I don't know what to do
+with it."
+
+"The obvious thing to do," remarked Quincy, "is to invest it at once, so
+that it will begin paying you interest."
+
+"That is just what I wished to see you about," responded Lindy. "How
+would you advise me to invest it?" she asked.
+
+"I would not presume," replied Quincy, "to give positive advice in such
+a case. I would go either to Foss & Follansbee, or Braithwaite & Mellen,
+or perhaps Rothwell Brothers & Co., look over the securities they have
+for sale and make my own selection, if I were in your place."
+
+Lindy was manifestly disappointed at Quincy's polite refusal to
+recommend any particular security, but she evidently realized that
+further argument or entreaty would be useless, so she quickly changed
+the subject by remarking that her mother had considerable money
+invested, but that she was a woman who never took any advice and never
+gave any.
+
+"I wonder who my mother is going to leave her money to? Do you know, Mr.
+Sawyer?"
+
+Quincy replied that he did not. "But she did tell me that by the terms
+of your brother's will you were not to inherit it."
+
+"Well, if you ever find out," said Lindy, "you will tell me, won't you,
+Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "unless I am requested to keep it a secret."
+
+"But you wouldn't keep it from me, their own daughter," said Lindy.
+
+"Well," he replied, "I don't think it at all likely that they will
+inform me; but I promise to tell you if I learn who it is and am not
+bound in any way to keep the information secret."
+
+"And will you tell me just as soon as you know?" persisted Lindy.
+
+"In less than twenty-four hours from the time I learn the name you
+shall hear it from my own lips," he replied.
+
+"Thank you," said Lindy. "Would you like to see father and mother?
+Father has been quite sick for a few days and they are in their own
+room. I will go up and tell them you are coming."
+
+Quincy was left in the room. That gossip about Miss Putnam could not be
+true. Gossip said she was ashamed of her father and mother, and yet she
+had invited him to go up and see them. What a pretty girl she was, well
+educated and with a hundred thousand dollars; such a beautiful singer
+and their voices blended so nicely together. How pleased his mother and
+sisters would be if he should bring home a wife like her. On the wall
+hung an oil portrait of her, evidently painted within a short time. He
+sat looking at it as Lindy opened the door.
+
+Before he could remove his eyes from the picture, Lindy had noticed his
+fixed gaze at it and smiled brightly.
+
+"Mother would be delighted to see you."
+
+Lindy rang a small bell that was on a table. In a moment Samanthy
+entered the room.
+
+"Samantha, please show Mr. Sawyer to mother's room. Will you excuse me,
+Mr. Sawyer, if I am not here to say good-by to you after you have seen
+mother? I am going to the city this morning and there--" looking out of
+the window--"here comes Abner Stiles; he is going to drive me over to
+Eastborough. Did you ever meet Mr. Stiles, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I may have seen him," replied Quincy.
+
+"Seeing him is nothing," said Lindy. "He must be heard to be
+appreciated. He is a most engaging talker; he has caught the biggest
+fish and killed the biggest bears--"
+
+"And told the biggest lies," broke in Quincy,--
+
+"Of any man in town," Lindy concluded.
+
+"I think there is one man in town who can tell bigger ones," Quincy
+said gravely; "he has been telling a good many lately."
+
+Lindy looked up and smiled. "He will never forgive us for what we did at
+the concert," said she, "Well, I mustn't keep Mr. Stiles waiting any
+longer, if I do he may--"
+
+"Try to compete with the other one," added Quincy.
+
+She smiled again, and gave him her little gloved hand, which he took in
+his for an instant.
+
+She ran out quickly and got into the team, which immediately drove off.
+Samanthy, who had been waiting impatiently in the hallway, ushered
+Quincy into an upper chamber, where sat Mrs. Putnam. Her husband was
+reclining on a lounge near the fire.
+
+[Illustration: "SAMANTHY GREEN," AS SHE APPEARS IN THE PLAY.]
+
+"Well, I am awful glad to see yer," said Mrs. Putnam. "Silas here hasn't
+been feelin' fust rate for more'n a week. He's most frozen to death all
+the time. So I got him up front of the fire, same as I used to roast
+turkeys. Set down, Mr. Sawyer, and tell me all the news. Have you heerd
+anybody going to git engaged or anybody going to git married? I heerd as
+how you had left Deacon Mason's. So you 'cided to take my advice. I'm
+kinder sorry you tipped the buggy over, for Huldy Mason's a nice girl.
+The fact is I was thinkin' more of her than I was of you, when I told
+yer you'd better git out. Where be yer boardin' now?"
+
+"I am boarding at Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill's. His sister has got home and
+his Uncle Isaac has come back to live with him."
+
+"Lord sakes, do tell!" said Mrs. Putnam. "I allus thought that old fool
+would die out there in the woods and they'd bury him in his chicken
+coop. But what on airth is Alice home for? Has she lost her job?"
+
+"No," replied Quincy; "poor girl, she has almost lost her sight. She
+has been very sick, and as a result she is almost blind, and had to give
+up work and come home."
+
+Mrs. Putnam sank back in her chair.
+
+"If I didn't think you were a truthful man, Mr. Sawyer, I wouldn't
+b'lieve a word you said. My poor Alice. Why, do you know, Mr. Sawyer, I
+never saw a human being in all my life that I liked so much as I have
+Alice Pettengill. Did you ever see her, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"No," said Quincy, "she only arrived yesterday afternoon, and she did
+not appear at supper nor at breakfast this morning. She was tired and
+wished to rest, her brother told me."
+
+"Well, I hope she won't die," said Mrs. Putnam. "I have left her every
+dollar I've got in the world, and if she should die I shouldn't know who
+on airth to give it to. Well, there, I've let the cat out of the bag,
+and my daughter Lindy, mean as she is about money, would give a thousand
+dollars to know who I am goin' to leave my money to. I wish I could see
+Alice. I can't walk, and that poor, deaf girl can't see. Why, Mr.
+Sawyer, I think she's the prettiest, sweetest girl I ever sot eyes on in
+my life, and I've seed a good many on 'em. Now you tell me what you
+think of her the next time you come up, won't you, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I certainly will," said Quincy, "and if she will come with me I will
+bring her over to see you. If she came from Boston with her brother, she
+can surely ride as far as this," he added.
+
+"Tell her I shall count every minute till she, comes over here, but
+don't say a word to her about my money," said Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"Certainly not," Quincy answered. "You did not intend to tell me."
+
+"No, I didn't," acknowledged Mrs. Putnam, "it slipped out before I
+thought."
+
+Quincy arose. "I must go now, Mrs. Putnam. I have business at
+Eastborough Centre, and I don't know how long it will take me, and
+besides, I am anxious to see Miss Pettengill after your glowing
+description of her beauty and her virtues."
+
+"Well, I haven't put the paint on half as thick as it would stand," said
+Mrs. Putnam. "Well, good-by, Mr. Sawyer. It's very kind in you to come
+and see two old folks like us. No use saying good-by to Silas; he's
+stone deef and besides he's sound asleep."
+
+When Quincy took up the reins and started towards Eastborough Centre it
+was with conflicting emotions. If there had been no Alice Pettengill to
+see, his thoughts, no doubt, would have related chiefly to Lindy Putnam,
+who had never attracted his attention before as she had that morning.
+Could Alice Pettengill be as pretty and as good as Mrs. Putnam had
+portrayed? And she was to be an heiress. He was sorry that Mrs. Putnam
+had told him. When he was talking to Miss Pettengill what he knew would
+be continually in his mind. He was glad that she was to have the money,
+but very sorry that he knew she was to have it; he had promised not to
+tell her, but he had promised to tell Lindy. Mrs. Putnam had not told
+him not to tell Lindy, but she had said Lindy would give a thousand
+dollars to know. Now, was that the same as requesting him not to tell
+Lindy, and should he tell Lindy for nothing what her mother said she
+would give a thousand dollars to know? Anyhow, that question must be
+decided within the next twenty-four hours.
+
+Then he began to think of his intended visit to Eastborough Poorhouse.
+Would the Jim Sawyer that he found there turn out to be his own uncle?
+What a sweet morsel that would be for Strout if it proved to be true.
+Anyhow, he would follow his father's instructions and do all he could
+for his uncle, come what might.
+
+Since he had arrived at Mason's Corner everything that he had done
+seemed to give rise to gossip, and a little more of it could do no harm.
+
+Quincy reached the Poorhouse and inquired for the keeper. A very stout,
+red-faced man answered the summons.
+
+He informed Quincy that his name was Asa Waters, and that he had been
+keeper of the town Poorhouse for the last ten years.
+
+Quincy thought from his size, as he evidently weighed between three and
+four hundred pounds, that he had probably eaten all the food supplied
+for the inmates. In reply to a direct question whether there was a man
+there by the name of Jim Sawyer, Mr. Waters said "yes," but that he was
+sick abed and had been for the last week.
+
+"He coughs awful," said Waters; "in fact, I had to change his room
+because the rest of us couldn't sleep. When we tried to move him he
+became sort of crazy like, and it took three on us to get him out of the
+room and take him upstairs. He seems sot on getting back in that room.
+The other day he crawled down stairs and we found him trying to get into
+the room, but I had it locked and we had another fight to get him
+upstairs again."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I would like to see him; it may be he is a distant
+relative of our family. My father wishes me to talk with him and make
+the inquiry anyway."
+
+"What mought your name be?" asked Mr. Waters.
+
+"My name is Quincy Adams Sawyer."
+
+"Oh, yes, I remember you," said Waters. "Wasn't you the singer that Mr.
+Strout hired to come down from Boston to sing at his concert. Strout
+told me he paid you $50 for singing that night, and by gosh it was worth
+it."
+
+Quincy was not a profane young man, but he had to smother an oath on
+hearing that. He replied, "Yes, I sang that night."
+
+"And," said Waters, "didn't you whistle that piece, Listen to the
+Bobolink, fine?"
+
+"Here, Sam," said he to a young fellow who appeared in sight, "show this
+gentleman up to Jim Sawyer's room; I'm getting kind of pussy, and I
+don't go upstairs much."
+
+Sam performed his mission and Quincy was ushered into the room and found
+himself with the sick man.
+
+"Is your name James Sawyer?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Yes," said the man. "I used to be proud of it once."
+
+"Did you have a brother?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Well," said Jim, "I don't think he would be proud of me now, so I guess
+I won't claim any relationship."
+
+Quincy stopped for a moment. Evidently the man's pride would keep him
+from telling anything about himself. He would try him on a new tack. The
+man had a long fit of coughing. When it had subsided, Quincy said, "It
+wearies you to talk. I will do the talking, and if what I say is true
+you can nod your head." Quincy continued, "Your name is James Edward
+Sawyer, your brother's name was Nathaniel." The man opened his eyes wide
+and looked steadfastly at him. "Your father, Edward Sawyer, left you
+fifty thousand dollars." The man clutched with both hands at the quilt
+on the bed. "You are about sixty years of age." The man nodded. "You
+married a young girl who lived in the country and took her to Boston
+with you; her maiden name was Eunice Raymond."
+
+The man started up in bed, resting on his elbow. "How did you know all
+this?" asked he. "Who has told you this? Who are you?"
+
+The exertion and the rapid speaking brought on another fit of coughing
+and he fell back on his pillow.
+
+"If what I have said is true," remarked Quincy quietly, "your brother,
+Nathaniel, is my father, and I am your nephew, Quincy Adams Sawyer."
+
+"Who sent you to see me?" asked the man.
+
+"I heard," replied Quincy, "that a man named James Sawyer was in the
+Eastborough Poorhouse. I wrote to my father, and in his reply he told me
+what I have just said to you. If you are my uncle, father says to do
+everything I can to help you, and if he had not said so I would have
+done it anyway."
+
+"It is all true," said the man faintly. "I squandered the money my
+father left me. I married a sweet, young girl and took her to the city.
+I tried to introduce her into the set to which I once belonged. It was a
+failure. I was angry, not with myself for expecting too much, but with
+her because she gave me too little, as I then thought. We had two
+children--a boy named Ray and a little girl named Mary, after my
+mother."
+
+"My grandmother," said Quincy.
+
+James Sawyer continued: "I took to drink. I abused the woman whose only
+fault had been that she had loved me. I neglected to provide for my
+family. My wife fell sick, my two little children died, and my wife soon
+followed them. I returned from a debauch which had lasted me for about a
+month to find that I was alone in the world. I fled from the town where
+we had lived, came here and tried to reform. I could not. I fell sick
+and they sent me here to the Poorhouse. I have had no ambition to leave.
+I knew if I did it would mean the same old life. I am glad you came. I
+cannot tell you how glad. I do not wish for any assistance; the town
+will care for me as long as I live, which will not be very long; but
+your coming enables me to perform an act of justice which otherwise I
+could not have done."
+
+"Tell me in what way I can serve you," said Quincy, "and it shall be
+done."
+
+"Look outside of the door," said the man, "and see if anybody is
+listening."
+
+Quincy opened the door suddenly and the broad face of Mr. Asa Waters
+stood revealed.
+
+"I thought I would come up and see if Mr. Sawyer wanted anything."
+
+"If he does," said Quincy, "I will inform you;" and he closed the door
+in Mr. Waters's face.
+
+Quincy waited till he heard his ponderous footsteps descending the
+stairs at the foot of the hallway.
+
+"Was old Waters out there listening?" asked Jim Sawyer.
+
+"I don't think he had time to hear anything," Quincy replied.
+
+"Come closer," said Jim; "let me whisper. I am not penniless. I have got
+some money. I have five thousand dollars in government bonds. I sold
+some stock I owned just before I went off on that last debauch, but I
+didn't spend all the money. When I die I want you to pay back to the
+town of Eastborough every dollar I owe for board. Don't let anybody know
+you got the money from me. Pay it yourself and keep the balance of it
+yourself."
+
+"Where is the money?" said Quincy.
+
+"It is down in my old room, No. 24, one flight down from here, at the
+other end of the hallway. I have got a key that will open the door. I
+made it myself. I nearly got in there the other day, but they caught me
+before I had a chance to open the door. If you can get in there take up
+the fourth brick from the window, second row from the front of the
+fireplace, and you will find the bonds in an old leather wallet. What
+time is it?" he asked quickly.
+
+"Half-past eleven," replied Quincy.
+
+"Now is your time," said the man; "all the hands have their dinner from
+half-past eleven to twelve; at twelve they feed us; take this key, and
+if you get the money, for God's sake come around to-morrow and let me
+know. I sha'n't sleep a wink till I hear from you."
+
+Quincy pressed the sick man's hand and left the room. He went downstairs
+on tiptoe and quickly reached room No. 24. He listened; all was quiet;
+it took but an instant to open the door, and, slipping quietly in, he
+locked it after him. With some difficulty he found the wallet, looked
+inside and saw five one thousand dollar United States bonds. He put the
+wallet in his pocket, replaced the brick, and listened at the door; all
+was quiet. He unlocked it, slipped out, locked it, and was retracing his
+steps, when he saw Sam coming upstairs at the other end of the hallway.
+
+"I think I took the wrong turn," said Quincy. "I thought I came up that
+way."
+
+"No," said Sam; "that's the back way."
+
+"Thank you," said Quincy, as he ran lightly downstairs. At the foot he
+met Mr. Waters.
+
+"Well, is he any relative of yours?" asked Waters.
+
+"I don't know yet," replied Quincy; "he has given me some facts, and I
+am going to write to Boston, and when I hear from there I will be able
+to answer your question. I will come around in a few days, as soon as I
+hear from the city."
+
+Quincy jumped into his team and drove to Eastborough Centre post office
+to see if there were any letters for him.
+
+When he reached the post office he found a letter from his father,
+informing him his mother and sisters were going to New York for a two
+weeks' visit and would very much like to see him if he would run up the
+next day.
+
+Quincy's mind was made up instantly. He drove to the hotel, left the
+team, with instructions to have it ready for him when he came down on
+the express that reached Eastborough Centre at 7.15 P.M., ran for the
+station and caught on to the back platform of the last car as it sped on
+its way to Boston.
+
+Arriving there, he first took a hasty lunch, then hiring a coupe by the
+hour, drove to his bank on State Street. Here he left the bonds with
+instructions to write to Eastborough Centre the amount realized from
+them and passed to the credit of his account.
+
+His next trip was to his father's house on Beacon Street, where he found
+his mother and sisters. They were overjoyed to see him, and his younger
+sister declared that he had grown better looking since he went away. She
+wanted to know if he had fallen in love with a country girl. Quincy
+replied that his heart was still free and if it wasn't for the law he
+would have her for his wife, and no one else. Maude laughed and slapped
+him.
+
+He next rode to his father's office on Court Street. The Hon. Nathaniel
+had just lunched at Parker's and was enjoying a good cigar when his son
+came in.
+
+Quincy told him that the Jim Sawyer at Eastborough Poorhouse was
+unquestionably their missing relative.
+
+"Poor Jim," said Nathaniel; "I ought to go and see him."
+
+"No; I wouldn't," said Quincy, "it will do no good, and his remorse is
+deep enough now without adding to it."
+
+He then told his father about the money, and the latter agreed that
+Jim's idea was right and Quincy had best use the money as though it were
+his own.
+
+"By the by," said his father, wheeling round in his office chair, "that
+Miss Putnam from Eastborough is a very pretty girl; don't you think so,
+Quincy?"
+
+"Handsome is as handsome does," thought Quincy to himself, but he only
+said, "Where did you see her?"
+
+"She was in here to-day," replied his father. "She said she had $25,000
+to invest, and that you gave her the address of some broker, but that
+she had forgotten it."
+
+"Her statement is partially true," said Quincy, "but not complete. I
+gave her three addresses, because I did not wish to recommend any
+particular one. I wished her to make her own choice."
+
+"I was not so conservative," remarked his father. "I advised her to go
+to Foss & Follansbee and even suggested that Quinnebaug Copper Company
+was one of the most promising investments before the public to-day."
+
+"Did she confide in you any farther," said Quincy.
+
+"Oh, yes," replied his father; "I gleaned she was worth $100,000 and
+that her parents, who were very old people, had nearly as much more. I
+remember her brother, J. Jones Putnam. He was a 'plunger,' and a
+successful one. He died suddenly of lung fever, I believe."
+
+Quincy smiled.
+
+"She seemed to be well educated," his father continued, "and told me
+that you and she sang together at a concert."
+
+"Did she tell you what her father's religion was?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"You don't seem to admire this young lady, Quincy. I thought she would
+be likely to be a great friend of yours. You might do worse than--"
+
+"I know," said Quincy, "she is pretty, well educated, musical, very
+tasteful in dress, and has money, but she can't have me. But how did it
+end?" asked he; "how did you get rid of her?"
+
+"Well," replied his father, "as I said before, I thought she must be a
+great friend of yours, and perhaps more, so I went down to Foss &
+Follansbee's with her; then we went to Parker's to lunch, then I sent
+her to the station in a coupe."
+
+"I am greatly obliged to you, father," said Quincy, "for the kind
+attentions you paid her. I shall get the full credit of them down in
+Eastborough; your name will not be mentioned; only," said Quincy with a
+laugh, "if she is coming to the city very often I think perhaps I had
+better come back to Boston and look after mother's interests."
+
+The Hon. Nathaniel was nettled by this and said sternly, "I do not like
+that sort of pleasantry, Quincy."
+
+"Neither do I," said Quincy coolly, "and I hope there will be no further
+occasion for it."
+
+"How long do you intend to remain in Eastborough?" asked his father.
+
+"I don't know," replied Quincy. "I can't come home while Uncle Jim is
+sick, of course. I will ask him if he would like to see you, and if he
+says yes, I will telegraph you. Well, good-by. I was up to the house and
+saw mother and the girls. I am going up to the club to see if I can meet
+some of the boys and have some dinner, and I shall go down on the 6.05
+express."
+
+Quincy lighted a cigar, shook hands rather stiffly with his father and
+left the office.
+
+When Quincy reached the Pettengill house it was a little after eight
+o'clock. Hiram came out to help him put up the horse. "Anybody up?"
+asked Quincy.
+
+"Only Mandy and me," said Hiram. "Uncle Ike is up in his attic, and
+'Zeke is up talkin' to his sister, and Mandy and me has been talkin' to
+each other; and, say, Mr. Sawyer, did you meet Lindy Putnam up in Boston
+to-day?"
+
+"No," said Quincy between his shut teeth.
+
+"Well, that's funny," said Hiram; "I heard Abner Stiles telling Strout
+as how Miss Putnam told him that Mr. Sawyer had been to the banker's
+with her to invest her money, and that Mr. Sawyer took her out to lunch
+and then rode down to the station in a carriage and put her aboard the
+train."
+
+"There are a great many Mr. Sawyers in Boston, you must remember,
+Hiram," remarked Quincy. "Anything else, Hiram?"
+
+"Well, not much more," replied Hiram; "but Strout said that if you got
+Lindy and her money and then cajoled the old couple into leavin' their
+money to you, that it would be the best game of bunco that had ever been
+played in Eastborough."
+
+"Well, Strout ought to know what a good bunco game is," said Quincy.
+"Have the horse ready by nine o'clock in the morning if you can get
+over. Good night, Hiram," he said.
+
+He passed through the kitchen, saying good night to Mandy, and went
+straight to his own room. He sat and thought for an hour, going over the
+events of the day.
+
+"As soon as Uncle Jim is dead and buried," said he to himself, "I think
+I will leave this town. As the children say when they play 'hide and go
+seek,' I am getting warm."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+A PROMISE KEPT.
+
+
+Quincy was up next morning at eight o'clock and ate his breakfast with
+'Zekiel. 'Zekiel said his sister did not sleep well nights, and so would
+not be down till later.
+
+"Do you want the team this morning, Mr. Pettengill?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No," said 'Zekiel, "but the Boston doctor wrote to Deacon Mason that he
+was comin' down this afternoon to take that stuff off Huldy's arm, and
+she wanted me to come up, so I shall be up there all the afternoon."
+
+"That reminds me," said Quincy. "Will you tell Deacon Mason that I want
+the nurse to stay until to-morrow and I will be up to see her at nine
+o'clock?"
+
+Quincy took up the reins and started for Eastborough Poorhouse.
+
+He found his uncle weaker than on the day before. Quincy touched his
+hand, but did not lift it from the bed. Jim pointed towards the door.
+
+"It's all right," said Quincy, "there is no one there."
+
+"Did you get it?" asked Uncle Jim in a whisper.
+
+"Yes," replied Quincy, "and it's safe in the bank in Boston."
+
+"Thank God!" exclaimed Uncle Jim. "Now I don't care how soon I am called
+to judgment for my sins."
+
+"Uncle Jim," said Quincy, "I saw my father yesterday afternoon. Would
+you like to have your brother come see you?"
+
+Uncle Jim shook his head. "It will do no good," said he. "You have done
+all I could wish for. Pay the town for my board. Give them what they
+ask. Do with the balance what you wish, Quincy. It is yours."
+
+"Where do you wish to be buried, Uncle?" asked Quincy bravely.
+
+"Right here," replied Uncle Jim. "One of the boys here died about a
+month ago; his name was Tom Buck. He was a good fellow and did many kind
+things for me. Bury me side of him."
+
+"One more question, Uncle," said Quincy. "In what town did your wife and
+children reside when they died?"
+
+"In Amesbury," said Uncle Jim. An idea seemed to strike him. "Well,
+Quincy, do you suppose you could find where they are buried?"
+
+"Of course I can," Quincy answered.
+
+"Well," continued Uncle Jim, "I don't deserve it, I am not worthy of it,
+but she always loved me, and so did the children. I never struck her,
+nor them, nor did I ever speak unkindly to them. I never went home when
+I was drunk. I deserted them and left them to suffer. I don't think she
+would object, do you?"
+
+Quincy divined his thoughts and answered, "No, I do not, Uncle."
+
+"If you will do it, Quincy," said Uncle Jim, "I shall die a happy man.
+Buy a little lot and put me beside Eunice and the children. Don't put my
+name on the stone, put her name and those of the children. That will
+please me best. She will know I am there, but others will not."
+
+"It shall be done as you say, Uncle," said Quincy. "I will be here early
+to-morrow morning and I shall come every day to see you. Good-by."
+
+He touched his uncle's hand again softly and left the room. Uncle Jim,
+with a smile upon his wasted face, fell asleep.
+
+Quincy drove leisurely towards Mason's Corner. It was more than
+twenty-four hours since he had learned who was to be Mrs. Putnam's
+heiress. He had made a promise. Should he keep it? How could he avoid
+keeping it? He would see Miss Putnam and be governed by circumstances.
+
+He reached the Putnam house and was shown into the same room as on the
+morning before. In a few minutes Lindy joined him. He had never seen her
+looking better. She had on a handsome gown that he had never seen
+before. Quincy opened the conversation.
+
+"Did you enjoy your trip to Boston yesterday, Miss Putnam?"
+
+"Oh, yes," replied Lindy, "I must tell you all about it."
+
+"There is no need to, Miss Putnam, I am acquainted with the most
+important events of your trip already."
+
+"Why, how?" asked Lindy. "Oh, I see," said she, "you had a letter from
+your father."
+
+"No," said Quincy. "I had the pleasure of a conversation with my father
+yesterday afternoon in Boston."
+
+"Is that so?" exclaimed Lindy.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "but I might have learned all the principal facts
+without leaving Mason's Corner. In fact, I did learn them in a somewhat
+distorted shape late last evening."
+
+Lindy colored until her forehead was as red as her cheeks.
+
+"I do not understand you, Mr. Sawyer," she remarked.
+
+"It is easily explained," said Quincy. "Mr. Stiles forgot to mention
+that it was my father who was your escort and not myself. Of course he
+would offer the similarity in names as his excuse."
+
+"And so," said Lindy, recovering herself, "you have come here to scold
+me because Abner Stiles didn't tell the truth. I told you he was a
+wonderful story teller."
+
+"No, Miss Putnam," said Quincy, "I did not come here for any such
+purpose. I made you a promise yesterday and I have come to keep it. I
+know who is to inherit your mother's money. She did not intend to tell
+me, but the name escaped her unintentionally."
+
+"Did she ask you not to tell me?" asked Lindy.
+
+"No," replied Quincy, "not in so many words."
+
+"Then you must tell me," cried Lindy eagerly.
+
+"Well, I don't know," said Quincy. "Your mother said you would give a
+thousand dollars to know the name of the person. This fixes the
+condition on which I shall divulge the name."
+
+"And if I did give you a thousand dollars," inquired Lindy, "what would
+you do with the money?"
+
+"I should give it to your mother," said Quincy. "She fixed the price of
+the secret, not I."
+
+Lindy walked to the window and looked out. She wished to know the name.
+She had her suspicions, but she could not bear to give up a thousand
+dollars of her own money, for she knew that this, too, would go to the
+unknown heiress. She knew Alice Pettengill was in town and at her
+brother's house. She had been there for a whole day and parts of two
+others. She would save her money and at the same time learn the truth.
+
+Turning to Quincy she said, "I cannot afford to pay you, or rather my
+mother, a thousand dollars for the secret. It is not worth it. I will
+not ask you again for her name, but if you will answer me one simple
+question I will absolve you from your promise."
+
+Quincy reflected. He knew that Lindy was deep and that she was plotting
+something while she stood at the window. But he wished this matter over,
+he was tired of it, so he replied, "I will answer your simple question,
+Miss Putnam, on one condition. It is that you will not deem me guilty
+of any intentional discourtesy if, after replying to it, I at once take
+my leave."
+
+They faced each other, she hardly able to conceal her impatience, he
+with a stern look upon his face.
+
+"My simple question is this, Mr. Sawyer, have you ever eaten a meal at
+the same table with my mother's heiress?"
+
+"I have never seen her," replied Quincy coldly. He took his hat, and
+with a low bow quitted the house and drove away.
+
+Lindy threw herself in a passion on the sofa and burst into a flood of
+tears. She had played her last card and had lost.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+AN INFORMAL INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+When Quincy drove into the barn he found Jim Cobb there, and he turned
+the horse over to him. Entering by the back door he passed through the
+kitchen without seeing either Mandy or Mrs. Crowley, and went slowly
+upstairs. The house was very quiet. He remembered that Uncle Ike had
+gone to Eastborough Centre and 'Zekiel had gone to Deacon Mason's. It
+was necessary for him to pass the door of the room occupied by Alice
+Pettengill in order to reach his own room. The door of her room was
+open. He involuntarily glanced in and then stood still.
+
+What vision was this that met his eye? The sun, now dropping to the
+westward, threw its rays in at the window and they fell upon the head of
+the young girl seated beside it.
+
+The hair was golden in the sunlight, that real golden that is seldom
+seen excepting on the heads of young children. She seemed slight in
+figure, but above the average stature. She wore a loose-fitting dress of
+light blue material, faced down the front with white, and over her
+shoulders was thrown a small knitted shawl of a light pink color. Quincy
+could not see her face, except in profile, for it was turned towards the
+window, but the profile was a striking one. He turned to step forward
+and enter his own room. As he did so the board upon which he stood
+creaked. He stopped again suddenly, hoping that the noise would not
+attract her attention, but her quick ear had caught the sound, and,
+rising, she advanced towards the door, her hands extended before her.
+
+"Is that you, Uncle Ike?" she asked in a clear, sweet voice. "I heard
+you drive in."
+
+She had started in a straight line towards the door, but for some cause,
+perhaps the bright light coming from the wood fire in the open
+fireplace, she swerved in her course and would have walked directly
+towards the blazing wood had not Quincy rushed forward, caught her by
+the hand and stopped her further progress, saying as he did so, "Miss
+Pettengill, you will set your dress on fire."
+
+"You are not Uncle Ike," said she, quickly. "He could not walk as fast
+as that. Who are you? You must know me, for you called me by name."
+
+Quincy replied, "Under the circumstances, Miss Pettengill, I see no way
+but to introduce myself. I am your brother's boarder, and my name is
+Sawyer."
+
+"I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Sawyer," said she, extending her hand,
+which Quincy took. "I feel acquainted with you already, for Uncle Ike
+speaks of you very often, and 'Zekiel said you used to board at Deacon
+Mason's. Don't you think Huldy is a lovely girl?"
+
+Quincy avoided this direct question and replied, "Uncle Ike has been
+equally kind in speaking of his niece, Miss Pettengill, so that I feel
+acquainted with her even without this,--I was going to say formal
+introduction,--but I think that we must both confess it was rather
+informal."
+
+Alice laughed merrily. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Sawyer? I have been
+alone nearly all day, and have really been very lonesome."
+
+She turned and groped, as if feeling for a chair. Quincy sprang forward,
+placed a large rocking chair before the fire, then, taking her hand, saw
+her safely ensconced in it. He then took a seat in a large armchair at
+the end of the fireplace nearest the door.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Sawyer," said Alice. "Everybody has been so kind to me
+since I have had this trouble with my eyes. Of course 'Zekiel has told
+you about it."
+
+"Yes," assented Quincy.
+
+He really did not care to talk. He was satisfied to sit and look at her,
+and he could do this with impunity, for she could not see his earnest
+gaze fixed upon her.
+
+"I have been used to an active life," said Alice. "I have had my
+business to attend to every day, and evenings I had my books, papers,
+pictures, and music. At first it seemed so hard to be shut out from them
+all, but years ago Uncle Ike taught me to be a philosopher and to take
+life as it came, without constantly fretting or finding fault. Uncle Ike
+says, 'It is not work but worry that wears men out,' That's why he came
+down here to live in the woods. He said they wouldn't let him work and
+so he worried all the time, but when he came here he had plenty to do,
+and in his work he found happiness."
+
+"I am learning a good lesson," said Quincy with a laugh. "I have studied
+much, but I actually never did a day's work in all my life, Miss
+Pettengill."
+
+"Then you are to be pitied," said Alice frankly; "but I see I should not
+blame you, you are studying now and getting ready to work."
+
+"Perhaps so," Quincy remarked. "My father wishes me to be a lawyer, but
+I detest reading law, and have no inclination to follow in my father's
+footsteps."
+
+"Perhaps you are too young," said Alice, "to settle upon your future
+career. I cannot see you, you know, and Uncle Ike did not say how old
+you were."
+
+Quincy smiled. "I am in my twenty-fourth year," said he. "I graduated at
+Harvard two years ago."
+
+"So old!" exclaimed Alice; "why, I am not twenty-one until next June,
+and I have been working for my living since I was sixteen."
+
+Quincy said, "I wish I had as honorable a record."
+
+"Now you are vexed with me for speaking so plainly," said Alice.
+
+"Not at all," Quincy replied. "I thank you for it. I have learned from
+Uncle Ike that frankness of speech and honesty of heart are Pettengill
+characteristics."
+
+"You might add," said Alice, "firmness in debate, for none of us like to
+own up that we are beaten. I remember years ago Uncle Ike and I had a
+long discussion as to whether it were better to be stone blind or stone
+deaf. I took the ground that it was better to be blind, for one could
+hear music and listen to the voices of friends, and hear the sound of
+approaching danger, and then, besides, everybody is so kind to a person
+who is blind. But you see Uncle Ike don't care for music, and had rather
+talk himself than listen, so he decided that it was best to be stone
+deaf, for then he could read and write to his friends. But of course
+neither of us gave in, and the question, so far as we are concerned, is
+still unsettled."
+
+At that moment the sound of a team was heard, and a few minutes later
+Uncle Ike came upstairs, followed by the driver of the team bearing a
+big basket and a large bundle. These contained Uncle Ike's purchases.
+
+"Wait a minute and I will go upstairs with you," called out Uncle Ike to
+the man. He entered the room, and looking somewhat surprised at seeing
+Quincy, he said somewhat sharply, "So you two have got acquainted, have
+you? I have been waiting for two days to introduce you."
+
+"I am greatly indebted to Mr. Sawyer," said Alice. "When he passed my
+door, which was open, I thought it was you and I started forward to meet
+you, but I missed my way and was walking directly towards the fire, when
+Mr. Sawyer interposed."
+
+"I should have done the same thing had it been me," said Uncle Ike. "So
+I don't see as you were in any real danger."
+
+Quincy thought that it was noticeably evident that the Pettengills were
+noted for plainness of speech.
+
+"Here are three letters for you, Alice, and here is one for you, Mr.
+Sawyer. I thought I would bring it over to you as I met Asa Waters down
+to the post office and he said you'd started for home. I'll be down in a
+few minutes, Alice, and read your letters for you." And Uncle Ike showed
+the man the way up to his domicile.
+
+Quincy arose, expressed his pleasure at having met Miss Pettengill, and
+presuming they would meet again at dinner, took his leave.
+
+The letter was from Quincy's father. It was short, but was long enough
+to cause Quincy to smother an oath, crush the letter in his hands and
+throw it into the open fire. The flames touched it, and the strong
+draught took it still ablaze up the wide-mouthed chimney.
+
+But Quincy's unpleasant thought did not go with it. The letter had said,
+"Quinnebaug stock has dropped off five points. Foss & Follansbee have
+written Miss Putnam that she must put up five thousand dollars to cover
+margin. Better see her at once and tell her the drop is only temporary,
+and the stock is sure to recover."
+
+Quincy sat down in his easy-chair, facing the fire, upon which he put
+some more wood, which snapped and crackled.
+
+"I won't go near that girl again," said he, with a determined look upon
+his face. The next moment he had banished Lindy Putnam from his mind,
+and was thinking of that other girl who was sitting not six feet from
+him. He could hear Uncle Ike's voice, and he knew that Alice's letters
+were being read to her. Then he fell into a reverie as the twilight
+shadows gathered round him. As the room grew darker the fire grew
+brighter, and in it he could seem to see a picture of a fair-haired girl
+sitting in a chair and listening with evident interest to a young man
+who was reading to her from a newspaper.
+
+The young girl placed her hand upon his arm and asked a question. The
+young man dropped the paper and gazed into the girl's face with a look
+full of tenderness, and placing one of his hands upon that of the young
+girl clasped it fondly, and Quincy saw that the face of this young man
+was his own. He sat there until there came a loud rap upon the door and
+Mandy's voice called out, "Supper's ready."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+THE COURTIN'.
+
+
+While Quincy was taking his first steps in Lover's Lane, which steps so
+often lead to the high road of Matrimony, 'Zekiel Pettengill had reached
+the end of his lane, which had been very long with many devious turns,
+and he found himself at that point where the next important question was
+to fix the day.
+
+'Zekiel was a strong-minded, self-willed, self-reliant young man, but in
+the presence of Huldy Mason he was as big a coward as the world ever
+saw. She had sent a little note to him, saying that she wished to see
+him that afternoon, and he knew their fates would be decided that day.
+He was hopeful, but the most hopeful lover has spasms of uncertainty
+until his lady love has said yes and yes again.
+
+Dressed in his best, 'Zekiel knocked at Deacon Mason's front door. For
+an instant he wished himself safe at home and debated whether he could
+get round the corner of the house before the door was opened. He turned
+his head to measure the distance, but at that moment the door was
+opened, and Mrs. Mason's smiling face was before him, and her pleasant,
+cheery voice said, "Come in, 'Zekiel."
+
+He felt reassured by this, for he argued to himself that she would have
+called him Mr. Pettengill if there had been any change in her feelings
+towards him. They entered the parlor, and Mrs. Mason said, "Take off
+your things and leave them right here, and go right up and see Huldy.
+She is waitin' for you. The doctor's been and gone. He took that plaster
+thing off Huldy's arm, says she's all right now, only she must be
+keerful, not do any heavy liftin' with it till it gets good and strong.
+He said it would be some time before she could help me much with the
+housework, so I am going to get a girl for a month or two. I heerd your
+sister got home, 'Zeke. They do say she's blind. I am awful sorry,
+'Zekiel. Hope she will get better of it. I am coming over to see her
+just as soon as I get me my girl. But you go right up, there's nobody
+there but Huldy. Mr. Sawyer is coming after the nurse to-morrow morning,
+and she is up in the spare room trying to catch up with her sleep. We
+told her there was no use in setting up with Huldy, but she said she had
+her orders from the doctor, and she wouldn't mind a single thing we
+said. But we will get rid on her to-morrow. Now you go right up,
+'Zekiel;" and Mrs. Mason took him by the arm and saw him on his way up
+the front stairs before she returned to her work in the kitchen.
+
+'Zekiel went upstairs deliberately, one step at a time. His footfalls,
+it seemed to him, must be heard all over the house. He paused before
+Huldy's door. He opened it a couple of inches, when the thought struck
+him that he ought to knock. He started to close the door and do so, when
+he heard a faint voice say, "Come in, 'Zekiel." So he was still 'Zekiel
+to Huldy. He opened the door and walked bravely into the room, but his
+bravery forsook him when he had taken a few steps. He had expected to
+find her in bed, as she had been every day before when he had called.
+But there she stood before him, the same Huldy as of old. Not exactly
+the same, however, for her cheeks had lost much of their rosy tint and
+there was a pensive look to the face that was new to it, which 'Zekiel
+saw, but could not understand.
+
+There were two chairs close together before the fire. She sat down in
+the left-hand one and motioned 'Zekiel to the other, which he took.
+
+"I thought I would find you abed," said 'Zekiel. "I didn't know you were
+up."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Huldy. "I got up and dressed as soon as the doctor took
+the jacket, that's what he called it, off my arm. I felt so much better
+I couldn't stay in bed any longer."
+
+"Well," said 'Zekiel, "when the schoolmaster used to tell me to take my
+jacket off I didn't feel near as well as I did before," and then they
+both laughed heartily.
+
+They sat silent for a few moments, when Huldy, turning her face with
+that sad look towards him, said, "There is something on my mind,
+'Zekiel, that I wish I could take off as easily as the doctor did that
+jacket."
+
+"Oh, nonsense," cried 'Zekiel; "why should you have anything on your
+mind? You are a little bit low spirited because you have been cooped up
+in bed so long."
+
+"No," said Huldy, "that isn't it. I have wronged a person and I am
+afraid that person will never fully forgive me. I am real sorry for what
+I have done, and I am going to tell the person and ask for pardon."
+
+"Well," said 'Zekiel, "the person must be pretty mean spirited if he or
+she don't forgive you after you say you are sorry, 'specially if you
+promise not to do it again."
+
+"Oh, I shall never do it again," said Huldy. "Once has nearly killed me.
+I suffered ten times more from that than from my broken arm."
+
+"Well," said 'Zekiel, "if that person don't forgive you I don't want
+anything more to do with him."
+
+"Let me tell you a little story," said Huldy. "A little boy and girl
+whose homes were not a quarter of a mile apart grew up together in a
+little country town. As children they loved each other, and as they grew
+older that love really grew stronger, though not so plainly shown or
+spoken. Everybody thought that one day they would be married, though he
+had never asked her to be his wife. Did you ever hear of anything like
+that, 'Zekiel?"
+
+"Well," remarked 'Zekiel, "I have in my mind two persons whose relations
+were pretty similar up to a certain point."
+
+"Yes," said Huldy, eagerly, "and that point was reached when a young man
+from the city, whose father was known to be very wealthy, came to board
+in her father's house." Huldy looked at 'Zekiel inquiringly.
+
+"Yes, I've heard of something like that," said 'Zekiel.
+
+"For a time," continued Huldy, "the young girl was unfaithful to her
+old-time lover. She thought the young man from the city was learning to
+love her because he was polite and attentive to her. She thought it
+would be nice to be rich and go to the city to live, but the young man
+soon undeceived her. He took her to ride one day, and on their way home
+he told her he was going to leave her father's house. She wished to know
+the reason, but he would not give it. She divined it, however, and in
+her agitation lost control of the horse she was driving. The buggy was
+overturned and her arm was broken." She looked up at 'Zekiel. His face
+was grave, but he nodded for her to go on. "She stayed in bed for three
+weeks, and during that time she lived over her short life a hundred,
+yes, a thousand, times; she knew that her fancy had been but a fleeting
+dream. A suspicion that perhaps the young man had imagined her feelings
+towards him was what had nearly broken her heart. Supposing you were the
+man, 'Zekiel, and I were the woman in this little story, could you
+forgive me if I said I was sorry and would never do it again?"
+
+"I forgave you, Huldy, when I let him come to board in my house. He told
+Uncle Ike why he left your father's house. The folks were talking about
+you and him, but he never imagined that you were in love with him, or
+thought any more about him than you would have of any passing
+acquaintance."
+
+"I am so glad," cried Huldy; "you have done me more good than the
+doctor, 'Zekiel;" and she dropped her head upon his shoulder.
+
+'Zekiel was struck with an idea, "If I am a better doctor than the other
+one, Huldy, I ought to get a bigger price for my services than he does."
+
+Huldy looked up. "What will your price be, Dr. Pettengill?"
+
+"I think I shall charge," said 'Zekiel, "one hundred thousand dollars,
+and as I know you haven't got the money and can't raise it, I think I
+shall have to hold you for security."
+
+He suited the action to the word, and they sat there so long, happy in
+their mutual love, that the Deacon and his wife came upstairs and
+entered the room quietly. When they saw the picture before them, thrown
+into prominence by the light of the fire, the Deacon said in a low tone
+to his wife, "I have thought so all along."
+
+And as Mrs. Mason looked up into her husband's face she said, "I am glad
+on't."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+JIM SAWYER'S FUNERAL.
+
+
+Quincy obeyed the call to supper with alacrity. Possibly he thought he
+would be the first one at the table, but Cobb's twins were in their
+places when he entered the room. 'Zekiel came in next, and Quincy's
+quick eye discerned that there was a look of quiet contentment on his
+face which had not been there before.
+
+Uncle Ike came down with Alice, and for the first time since her arrival
+she sat beside Quincy. For some reason or other the conversation lagged.
+Quincy surmised that 'Zekiel was too happy with his own thoughts to wish
+to talk, and Uncle Ike rarely conversed during meal time. He said he
+could not talk and eat at the same time, and as meal time was for eating
+he proposed to give his attention to that exclusively.
+
+Quincy ventured a few commonplace remarks to Alice, to which she replied
+pleasantly. He was at a loss for a topic, when he remembered his last
+visit to Mrs. Putnam's and recalled his promise to bring Alice to see
+her some day.
+
+He spoke of visiting Mrs. Putnam, and Alice's face immediately shone
+with pleasure. "Dear old Aunt Heppy! I must go and see her as soon as I
+can."
+
+"If you can find no better escort than myself, I trust you will command
+my services, unless," said Quincy, "your brother thinks it unsafe to
+trust you with me."
+
+"He won't be likely to let you drive, Alice," responded 'Zekiel dryly,
+"so I don't think there will be any danger."
+
+Quincy knew by this remark that Huldy had told 'Zekiel the facts of the
+case, but he maintained his composure and said, "Any time you wish to
+go, Miss Pettengill, I am at your service."
+
+As they arose from the table 'Zekiel said to his uncle, "I am coming up
+in your room to-night, Uncle Ike, to see you."
+
+Quincy knew by this that the pleasant chat in the dining-room beside the
+fireplace was to be omitted that evening, so he went up to his own room
+and read until it was time to retire.
+
+Quincy was up early next morning. He knew his uncle could not live long,
+but he wished to take the trained nurse to Eastborough Centre, so he
+might have the best of care during the short time left to him on earth.
+
+He found 'Zekiel at the breakfast table, and beyond a few commonplace
+remarks the meal was eaten in silence.
+
+"Are you going to Eastborough Centre to-day, Mr. Sawyer?" asked 'Zekiel.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy; "I intended to go just as soon as one of the boys
+could get the team ready."
+
+"I'll speak to Jim about it," said 'Zekiel. "If you will step into the
+parlor, Mr. Sawyer, I would like to have a few minutes' talk with you."
+
+'Zekiel went out into the barn and Quincy walked into the parlor, where
+he found a bright fire burning on the hearth. He threw himself into an
+easy-chair and awaited 'Zekiel's return. What was up? Could 'Zekiel and
+Huldy have parted, and was 'Zekiel glad of it? Quincy, as the saying is,
+passed a "bad quarter of an hour," for he did not like suspense. The
+truth, however bitter or unpalatable, was better than uncertainty.
+
+'Zekiel entered the room and took a seat opposite to Quincy. He bent
+forward and placed his hands upon his knees.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer," said he, "I am a man of few words, so I will come right
+to the point. Huldy Mason and me are engaged to be married."
+
+Quincy was equal to the occasion. He arose, stepped forward, and
+extended his hand. 'Zekiel rose also and grasped it unhesitatingly.
+Quincy said, "Accept my most sincere congratulations, Mr. Pettengill. I
+have known Miss Mason but a short time, but any man ought to be proud of
+her and happy in her love."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Sawyer," said 'Zekiel; "I agree with you in both the
+particulars you've mentioned, but both of us have what we consider good
+reasons for not having our engagement known in the village just at
+present, and to keep it a secret we need the assistance of a mutual
+friend."
+
+"If I might aspire to that honor," said Quincy, "my time and services
+are at your disposal."
+
+"That's what I told Huldy," said 'Zekiel, "but she was afraid that you
+would be vexed at what the gossips said about you and her; she's mad as
+a hornet herself, and she wants to teach them a lesson."
+
+"Personally," said Quincy, "I don't care what the gossips say, but I was
+both sorry and indignant that they should have referred to Miss Mason in
+the way they did."
+
+"Well," said 'Zekiel, "we have hatched up a sort of a plot, and if you
+will help us, all three of us will have some fun out of it."
+
+"Well," inquired Quincy, "what's my share in the fun?"
+
+"It's this," said 'Zekiel, "you know you used to take Huldy out to ride
+with you. To help out our plan, would you be willing to do it again?"
+
+"Certainly," replied Quincy. "Miss Mason has been confined to her room
+so long I think she ought to have some fresh air."
+
+"That's true," remarked 'Zekiel; "she's lost considerable flesh staying
+in so long; but if I took her out to ride they would jump at conclusions
+right off and say Huldy and 'Zekiel have made up, and they will guess
+we are going to make a match of it. Then, again," 'Zekiel continued,
+"Huldy says she's bound to have it out with the one that started the
+stories. There's no use mincing matters between us, because you know as
+well as I do who is at the bottom of all this tittle-tattle. Since I
+refused to join hands with him to try and drive you out of town, he has
+talked about me almost as bad as he has about you. 'So,' says Huldy to
+me, 'you know he is the only teacher of music in Eastborough. I want to
+take music lessons very much, and so I have got to have him for
+teacher.' Then she said, ''Zekiel, you leave the rest of it to me, and
+we will all have some fun before we get through.' I expect she is going
+to flirt with him, for it comes as nat'ral to her as it does to most
+women."
+
+Quincy did not think it polite to assent to this last remark and changed
+the subject by remarking, "This is a beautiful day. I am going to drive
+the nurse over to Eastborough; perhaps Miss Mason would like to
+accompany us. That is, if you can trust her with me."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said 'Zekiel; "Huldy had to pay pretty dearly
+for getting mad at the wrong time. Besides, I don't think she will want
+to drive horse again for a while."
+
+Mandy rapped on the parlor door and called out that the team was ready.
+
+Quincy assured 'Zekiel that he understood his part and would play it to
+the best of his ability.
+
+When he arrived at Deacon Mason's house he found the latter just coming
+out of the front gate. As Quincy leaped from the team the Deacon came
+forward and shook hands with him. "You are just the man I want to see,"
+he remarked. "I've paid our doctor, but I want to know what the bill is
+for the Boston doctor and the nurse."
+
+"I don't know yet," said Quincy, "but there will be nothing for you to
+pay. It is my duty to settle that bill myself."
+
+"No," said the Deacon firmly. "She is my daughter, and it is my place as
+her father to pay such bills, until she has a husband to pay them for
+her."
+
+Quincy said, "Deacon Mason, when I took your daughter out to ride it was
+my duty to return her to her home without injury. I did not do so, and I
+trust that you will allow me to atone for my neglect. Remember, sir, you
+have lost her services for several weeks, and the board of the nurse has
+been an expense to you."
+
+"I prefer," rejoined the Deacon, "that the bill should be sent to me."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, to close the discussion, "I will ask him to send
+you one;" mentally resolving, when it was sent, it would be a receipted
+one.
+
+Quincy received a hearty welcome from Mrs. Mason, who said the nurse had
+her things packed and was all ready to go. He then told Mrs. Mason that
+he had a message for Miss Mason from Mr. 'Zekiel Pettengill, and Mrs.
+Mason said she would send Huldy to the parlor at once. Huldy greeted
+Quincy with a happy face and without any show of confusion.
+
+"I had a long talk with Mr. Pettengill," said Quincy, "and he has
+induced me to become a conspirator. The first act in our comedy is to
+ask you if you will ride over to Eastborough Centre this morning with
+the nurse and myself, and get a little fresh air?"
+
+"I should be delighted," said Huldy, "if you can wait long enough for me
+to dress."
+
+"That's what I came early for," remarked Quincy. "How long will it take
+you?"
+
+"Fifteen minutes," said Huldy.
+
+"It is now half-past seven," remarked Quincy, looking at his watch. "You
+mean you will be ready by quarter of nine?"
+
+"No," said Huldy, with a flash of her eyes, "I am no city lady. I am a
+plain, country girl, and I mean just one-quarter of an hour. You can
+time me, Mr. Sawyer;" and she ran gayly out of the room.
+
+Quincy looked out of the window and saw that Hiram had put the nurse's
+heavy valise on the front seat of the carryall. The nurse herself was
+standing by the side of the team, evidently uncertain which seat to
+take. Quincy was quickly at her side.
+
+"You can sit in here, Miss Miller," said Quincy, pointing to one of the
+rear seats; and when she was seated Quincy told Hiram to put the valise
+on the seat beside her. He had no idea of having Huldy take a back seat.
+
+True to her promise, Huldy made her toilet in the appointed time, and
+taking her seat beside Quincy, he took up the reins. Turning to Hiram he
+asked, "If I drive by Hill's grocery and take the road to the left, will
+it bring me round to the main road to Eastborough Centre again?"
+
+"Yaas," said Hiram, "you take the road where Mis' Hawkins's boardin'
+house is on the corner. You remember that big yellow house. You know I
+told you Mandy's mother kept it."
+
+"All right," said Quincy, and off they went.
+
+Quincy gave a side glance at Huldy. He discovered she was throwing a
+side glance at him. They both smiled, but said nothing. He drove around
+the big tree that stood in the centre of the square in front of the
+grocery, which brought the team quite close to the store platform. No
+one was in sight, but just as he reached Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house
+the door opened and Obadiah Strout came out. Huldy placed her hand on
+Quincy's arm.
+
+"Please hold up a minute, Mr. Sawyer."
+
+Quincy brought the horse to a standstill with a jerk and looked straight
+ahead.
+
+"Ah, good morning, Mr. Strout," said Huldy. "Did you get the letter I
+sent up by Hiram last evening about my taking music lessons?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Strout, "and I was coming down this morning to settle on
+the best time for you taking them."
+
+"Could you come to-morrow afternoon from two to three?" asked Huldy.
+
+Strout took a well-worn memorandum book from his pocket and consulted
+it. "Three to four would be the best I could do," said he, "for I have a
+lesson from half-past one to half-past two."
+
+"That will do just as well," replied Huldy. "Three to four to-morrow
+afternoon. Isn't this a beautiful day, Mr. Strout? I am taking a little
+drive for my health;" and she nodded smilingly to Strout, who had
+recognized Quincy as her companion.
+
+"That's all, Mr. Sawyer," said Huldy, and they drove on.
+
+"By thunder," said Strout, "they say the hair of a dog is good for his
+bite. Just as soon as she got well, off she goes riding again with the
+same feller who tipped the team over and broke her arm. I guess 'Zeke
+Pettengill's chances ain't worth much now. It beats all how 'Zeke can
+let that feller board in his house, but I suppose he does it to let us
+folks see that he don't care. Well, Huldy Mason is a bright little girl,
+and I always liked her. That city chap don't mean to marry her, and if I
+don't make the best of my chances when I get to teaching her music, my
+name ain't Obadiah Strout, which I guess it is." And he walked across
+the square to Hill's grocery to smoke his morning cigar.
+
+On the way to Eastborough Centre Quincy wondered what he would do with
+Huldy when he arrived there. He did not care to take her to the
+Poorhouse, and particularly he did not wish her to see his uncle. Quincy
+was proud, but he was also sensible, and he decided upon a course of
+action that would prevent any one from saying that his pride had made
+him do a foolish act.
+
+As they neared the Poorhouse Quincy turned to Huldy and said, "The Jim
+Sawyer who has been at the Eastborough Poorhouse for the last five years
+is my father's brother and my uncle. His story is a very sad one. I will
+tell it to you some day. He is in the last stages of consumption, and I
+am taking Miss Miller over to care for him while he lives."
+
+Huldy nodded, and nothing more was said until they reached the
+Poorhouse. Quincy jumped out and called to Sam, who was close at hand,
+to hold the horse. Sam looked at him with a peculiar expression that
+Quincy did not stop to fathom, but running up the short flight of steps
+entered the room that served as the office for the Poorhouse. Mr. Waters
+was there writing at his desk. He turned as Quincy entered.
+
+"How is my uncle?" asked Quincy.
+
+"He is better off than us poor mortals," replied Mr. Waters with a
+long-drawn countenance.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Quincy. "Is he dead?"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Waters, "he died about four o'clock this mornin'. Sam
+sat up with him till midnight, and I stayed with him the balance of the
+time."
+
+"I am so sorry I was not here," said Quincy.
+
+"It wouldn't have done any good," said Waters. "He didn't know what was
+going on after two o'clock, and you couldn't have been of any use if
+you'd been here. If 't had been daytime I should have sent over for you.
+He only spoke once after I went upstairs and that was to say that you
+would see to buryin' him."
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "I will take charge of the remains."
+
+"Well," remarked Mr. Waters, "I called in the town undertaker and he has
+got him all ready."
+
+"When does the next train leave for Boston?" asked Quincy, taking out
+his watch.
+
+"In just twenty minutes," Waters replied, looking up at the clock.
+
+"I will be back from Boston at the earliest possible moment," said
+Quincy; and before the astonished Waters could recover himself, the
+young man had left the room.
+
+Quincy jumped into the team, grasped the reins, and started off at full
+speed for Eastborough Centre.
+
+"My uncle died this morning," said he, turning to Huldy, "I must go to
+Boston at once to make the necessary arrangements for his funeral He is
+to be buried at Amesbury with his wife and children, so please get word
+to Mr. Pettengill that I shall not be home for several days. I will get
+some one at the hotel to drive you home, Miss Mason. Only stern
+necessity compels me to leave you in this way."
+
+"You will do nothing of the sort," said Huldy. "I am perfectly confident
+that I am able to drive this team home all by myself."
+
+"I never can consent to it," said Quincy. "If anything happened to you,
+your father and--" Huldy glanced at him. "I mean," said Quincy, "I
+should never forgive myself, and your father would never forgive me.
+Your arm is still weak, I know."
+
+"My arm is just as good as ever," said Huldy. "The doctor told me it
+wouldn't break in that place again. Besides, Mr. Sawyer," she said, as
+the hotel came in sight, "I shall drive back just the same way we came,
+and there are no hills or sharp corners, you know." She laughed heartily
+and added, "I shall enjoy it very much, it is part of the comedy."
+
+"Well," said Quincy in an undertone, "rebellious young woman, do as you
+will, and bear the consequences. I will turn the team around so that you
+won't have any trouble, and Hiram can take it down to Mr. Pettengill's
+and deliver my message. Good-by," and he shook hands with her.
+
+"We will get out here, Miss Miller," said he, and he helped the nurse to
+alight. Grasping the heavy valise, he started at a brisk pace for the
+station, and Miss Miller was obliged to run in order to keep up with
+him. They boarded the train and took their seats. The train was ahead of
+time and waited for a few minutes at the station.
+
+Quincy did not know as he sped towards Boston on his sad errand that
+Miss Lindy Putnam was in the second car behind him, bound to the same
+place. Nor did he know for several days that Abner Stiles, who drove her
+to the station, had seen Huldy driving towards Mason's Corner. Nor did
+he know that Strout had told Abner of his seeing Huldy and Sawyer
+together. Nor did he know that Abner whipped up his horse in a vain
+attempt to overtake Huldy on her return to Mason's Corner. She, too, had
+whipped up her horse and had reached home, and was in the house, calling
+for Hiram, just as Abner turned into the square by Hill's grocery.
+
+Quincy made the necessary purchases, and with the city, undertaker
+returned to Eastborough Centre by the noon train. The body was placed in
+a leaden casket and Quincy and the undertaker with their sad burden
+returned to Boston by the five o'clock express.
+
+His mother and sisters were still in New York, but he passed the evening
+with his father, who approved of all he had done and what he proposed
+doing.
+
+Quincy went to Amesbury and purchased a small lot in the cemetery. After
+a day's search he discovered the place of burial of his uncle's wife and
+children. They were disinterred, and the four bodies were placed in the
+little lot.
+
+On his return to Boston he made arrangements for two plain marble stones
+for his uncle and aunt, and two smaller ones for his little cousins,
+whom he had never seen.
+
+The directions that he left with the monument maker and the undertaker
+at Amesbury were followed to the letter. If one should pass by that
+little lot he would see on one marble slab these words:
+
+    Eunice Raymond Sawyer,
+     Aged 29 yrs., 6 mos.
+
+On the little slab at her feet the simple words:
+
+    Mary, Aged 4 yrs., 2 mos.
+
+At its side another little stone bearing only these words:
+
+    Ray, Aged 6 yrs., 8 mos.
+
+Adhering strictly to his uncle's request, the other large stone bore no
+name, but on it were engraved these words:
+
+    In Heaven we Know our Own.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+A WET DAY.
+
+
+When Quincy alighted from the train at Eastborough Centre, after
+attending his uncle's funeral, he found the rain descending in torrents.
+He hired a closed carriage and was driven to Mason's Corner, arriving
+there about ten o'clock. He had taken his breakfast in Boston.
+
+When he reached the Pettengill house he saw Hiram standing at the barn
+door. Bidding the driver stop, he got out and paid his score; he then
+took Hiram by the arm and led him into the barn. When he had primed the
+latter with a good cigar, he said, "Now, Hiram, I've been away several
+days and I want to know what has been going on. You know our agreement
+was that you should tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I
+don't want you to spare my feelings nor anybody else's. Do you
+understand?" said he to Hiram. Hiram nodded. "Then go ahead," said
+Quincy.
+
+"Well, first," said Hiram, puffing his cigar with evident satisfaction,
+"they got hold of the point that Miss Huldy drove back alone from
+Eastborough Centre. Abner Stiles took Lindy Putnam down to the station
+and she went to Boston on the same train that you did. Abner tried to
+catch up with Huldy, so he could quiz her, but she whipped up her horse
+and got away from him."
+
+"Smart girl!" interjected Quincy.
+
+"You can just bet," said Hiram, "there ain't a smarter one in this town,
+though, of course, I think Mandy is pretty smart, too."
+
+"Mandy's all right," said Quincy; "go ahead."
+
+"Well, secondly, as the ministers say," continued Hiram, "Lindy Putnam
+told Abner when he drove her home from the station that night that the
+copper company that Mr. Sawyer told her to put her money in had busted,
+and she'd lost lots of money. That's gone all over Mason's Corner, and
+if Abner told Asa Waters, it's all over Eastborough Centre by this
+time."
+
+"The whole thing is a lie," said Quincy hotly; "the stock did go down,
+but my father told me yesterday it had rallied and would soon advance
+from five to ten points. What's the next confounded yarn?"
+
+"Well, thirdly," continued Hiram, "of course everybody knows Jim Sawyer
+was your uncle, and somebody said--you can guess who--that it would look
+better if you would pay up his back board instead of spending so much
+money on a fancy funeral and cheating the town undertaker out of a job."
+
+"I paid him for all that he did," said Quincy.
+
+"Yes," said Hiram, "but this is how it is. You see the undertaker makes
+a contract with the town to bury all the paupers who die during the year
+for so much money. They averaged it up and found that about three died a
+year, so the town pays the undertaker on that calculation; but this
+year, you see, only two have died, and there ain't another one likely to
+die before town meeting day, which comes the first Monday in March, so,
+you see the undertaker gets paid for buryin' your uncle, though he
+didn't do it, and some one says--you can guess who--that he is going to
+bring the matter up in town meeting."
+
+Quincy smothered an exclamation and bit savagely into his cigar.
+
+"Anything else?" inquired he. "Have they abused the ladies as well as
+me?"
+
+"No," said Hiram; "you see somebody--you know who--is giving Huldy music
+lessons and he will keep quiet about her anyway; but he says he can't
+understand how 'Zeke Pettengill can let you board in his house and go
+out riding with Huldy, unless things is up between 'Zeke and Huldy."
+
+"Well, I guess that's about the size of it," said Quincy. "Now, for
+instance, Hiram, you and Mandy are good friends, aren't you?"
+
+"Yes," said Hiram, "after we get over our little difficulties we are."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I happen to know that 'Zekiel and Huldy have got
+over their little difficulties and they are now good friends."
+
+"Been't they going to get married?" asked Hiram.
+
+"Are you and Mandy going to get married?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Well, we haven't got so far along as to set the day exactly," said
+Hiram.
+
+"And I don't believe 'Zekiel and Huldy will get married any sooner than
+you and Mandy will," remarked Quincy. "But don't say a word about this,
+Hiram."
+
+"Mum's the word," replied Hiram. "I am no speaker, but I hear a thing or
+two."
+
+"Now, Hiram," said Quincy, "run in and tell Mandy I'll be in to lunch as
+usual, and then come back, for I have something more to say to you."
+
+Hiram did as directed, and Quincy sat and thought the situation over. So
+far he had been patient and he had borne the slings and arrows hurled at
+him without making any return. The time had come to change all that, and
+from now on he would take up arms in his own defence, and even attack
+his opponents.
+
+When he had reached this conclusion, Hiram reappeared and resumed his
+seat on the chopping block.
+
+Quincy asked, "In what regiment did the singing-master go to war?"
+
+"The same one as I did,--th Mass.," replied Hiram.
+
+"Did you go to war?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"Well, I rather guess," said Hiram. "I went out as a bugler; he was a
+corporal, but he got detailed for hospital duty, and we left him behind
+before we got where there was any fightin'."
+
+"Was he ever wounded in battle?" asked Quincy.
+
+"One of the sick fellers in the hospital gave him a lickin' one day, but
+I don't suppose you'd call that a battle," remarked Hiram.
+
+"Well, how about that rigmarole he got off down to the grocery store
+that morning?" Quincy interrogated.
+
+"Oh, that was all poppycock," said Hiram. "He said that just to get even
+with you, when you were telling about your grandfathers and
+grandmothers."
+
+Quincy laughed.
+
+"Oh, I see," said he. "Were you ever wounded in battle, Hiram?"
+
+"Well, I was shot onct, but not with a bullet."
+
+"What was it," said Quincy, "a cannon ball?"
+
+"No," said Hiram. "I never was so thunderin' mad in my life. When I go
+to regimental reunions the boys just joke the life out of me. You see I
+was blowin' my bugle for a charge, and the boys were goin' ahead in
+great style, when a shell struck a fence about twenty feet off. The
+shell didn't hit me, but a piece of that darned fence came whizzin'
+along and struck me where I eat, and I had a dozen stummick aches inside
+o' half a minute. I just dropped my bugle and clapped my hands on my
+stummick and yelled so loud that the boys told me afterwards that they
+were afraid I had busted my bugle."
+
+Quincy laid back in his chair and laughed heartily.
+
+"What do the boys say to you when you go to the reunions?" he asked.
+
+"They tell me to take a little whiskey for my stummick's sake," said
+Hiram, "and some of them advise me to put on a plaster, and, darn 'em,
+they always take me and toss me in a blanket every time I go, and onct
+they made me a present of a bottleful of milk with a piece of rubber
+hose on top of it. They said it would be good for me, but I chucked it
+at the feller's head, darn him."
+
+Quincy had another good laugh. Then he resumed his usual grave
+expression and asked, "What town offices does the singing-master hold?"
+
+"Well," said Hiram, "he is fence viewer and hog reeve and pound keeper,
+but the only thing he gets much money out of is tax collector. He gets
+two per cent on about thirty thousand dollars, which gives him about ten
+dollars a week on an average, 'cause he don't get no pay if he don't
+collect."
+
+"Did he get a big vote for the place?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No," said Hiram "he just got in by the skin of his teeth; he had last
+town meetin' two more votes than Wallace Stackpole, and Wallace would
+have got it anyhow if it hadn't been for an unfortunate accident."
+
+"How was that?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Well, you see," said Hiram, "two or three days before town meetin'
+Wallace went up to Boston. He got an oyster stew for dinner, and it made
+him kinder sick, and some one gave him a drink of brandy, and I guess
+they gave him a pretty good dose, for when he got to Eastborough Centre
+they had to help him off the train, 'cause his legs were kinder weak.
+Well, 'Bias Smith, who lives over to West Eastborough, he is the best
+talker we've got in town meetin'. He took up the cudgels for Wallace,
+and he just lammed into those mean cusses who'd go back on a man 'cause
+he was sick and took a little too much medicine. But Abner Stiles,--you
+know Abner,--well, he's the next best talker to 'Bias Smith,--he stood
+up and said he didn't think it was safe to trust the town's money to a
+man who couldn't go to Boston and come home sober, and that pulled over
+some of the fellers who'd agreed to vote for Wallace."
+
+"Has the tax collector performed his duties satisfactorily?" asked
+Quincy.
+
+"Well," said Hiram, "Wallace Stackpole told me the other day that he
+hadn't got in more than two-thirds of last year's taxes. He said the
+selectmen had to borrow money and there'd be a row at the next town
+meetin'."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, rising, "I think I will go in and get ready for
+lunch. I had a very early breakfast in Boston."
+
+"Did you have oyster stew?" asked Hiram.
+
+"No," replied Quincy, "people who live in Boston never eat oyster stews
+at a restaurant. If they did there wouldn't be enough left for those
+gentlemen who come from the country."
+
+He opened the door and Hiram grasped his arm.
+
+"By Gosh! I forgot one thing," he cried. "You remember Tilly James, that
+played the pianner at the concert?"
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "and she was a fine player, too."
+
+"Well," said Hiram, "she's engaged to Sam Hill, you know, down to the
+grocery store. That ain't all, old Ben James, her father, he's a
+paralytic, you know, and pretty well fixed for this world's goods, and
+he wants Benoni to sell out his grocery when Tilly gets married and come
+over and run the farm, which is the biggest one in the town, and I heerd
+Abner Stiles say to 'Manuel Howe, that he reckoned he--you know who I
+mean--would get some fellers to back him up and he'd buy out the grocery
+and get 'p'inted postmaster. I guess that's all;" and Hiram started off
+towards Deacon Mason's.
+
+Quincy went to his room and prepared for the noonday meal. While doing
+so he mentally resolved that the singing-master would not be the next
+tax collector if he could prevent it; he also resolved that the same
+party would not get the grocery store, if he had money enough to outbid
+him; and lastly he felt sure that he had influence enough to prevent his
+being appointed postmaster.
+
+Quincy met Ezekiel at lunch. He told Quincy that everything was working
+smoothly; that the singing-master evidently thought he had the field all
+to himself. He said Huldy and Alice were old friends, and Huldy was
+coming over twice a week to see Alice, and so he shouldn't go up to
+Deacon Mason's very often.
+
+"Where is Miss Pettengill?" said Quincy.
+
+"Well," replied Ezekiel, "she isn't used to heavy dinners at noon, so
+she had a lunch up in her room. I am going over to West Eastborough this
+afternoon with the boys to see some cows that 'Bias Smith has got to
+sell. The sun is coming out and I guess it will be pleasant the rest of
+the day."
+
+"'Bias Smith?" asked Quincy.
+
+"His name is Tobias," said Ezekiel, "but everybody calls him 'Bias."
+
+"I have heard of him," said Quincy. "You just mention my name to him,
+Mr. Pettengill, and say I am coming over some day with Mr. Stackpole to
+see him."
+
+'Zekiel smiled. "Going to take a hand yourself?" asked he.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "the other fellow has been playing tricks with the
+pack so long that I think I shall throw down a card or two myself, and I
+may trump his next lead."
+
+"By the way," said 'Zekiel, "while you were away Uncle Ike had our piano
+tuned and fixed up. It hasn't been played since Alice went to Boston
+five years ago. But the tuner who came from Boston said it was just as
+good as ever. So if you hear any noise underneath you this afternoon you
+will know what it means."
+
+"Music never troubles me," said Quincy, "I play and sing myself."
+
+"Well, I hope you and Alice will have a good time with the piano,"
+remarked 'Zekiel as he left the room.
+
+Quincy went back to his room and wrote a letter to a friend in Boston,
+asking him to get a certified copy of the war record of Obadiah Strout,
+Corporal --th Mass. Volunteers, and send it to him at Eastborough Centre
+as soon as possible. It was many days before that letter reached its
+destination.
+
+He then sat down in his favorite armchair and began thinking out the
+details of his aggressive campaign against the singing-master. He had
+disposed of his enemy in half a dozen pitched battles, when the sound of
+the piano fell upon his ear.
+
+She was playing. He hoped she was a good musician, for his taste in that
+art was critical. He had studied the best, and he knew it when he heard
+it sung or played. The piano was a good one, its tone was full and
+melodious, and it was in perfect tone.
+
+He listened intently. He looked and saw that he had unintentionally left
+the door of his room ajar. The parlor door, too, must be open partly, or
+he could not have heard so plainly. What was that she was playing? Ah!
+Mendelssohn. Those "Songs Without Words" were as familiar to him as the
+alphabet. Now it is Beethoven, that beautiful work, "The Moonlight
+Sonata," she was evidently trying to recall her favorites to mind, for
+of course she could not be playing by note. Then she strayed into a
+"valse" by Chopin, and followed it with a dashing galop by some unknown
+composer. "She is a classical musician," said Quincy to himself, as the
+first bars of a Rhapsodic Hongroise by Liszt fell upon his ear. "I hope
+she knows some of the old English ballads and the best of the popular
+songs," thought Quincy.
+
+As if in answer to his wish she played that sterling old song, "Tis but
+a Little Faded Flower," and Quincy listened with pleasure to the pure,
+sweet, soprano voice that rang out full and strong and seemed to reach
+and permeate every nook and corner in the old homestead.
+
+Quincy could stand it no longer. He stepped quietly to his door, opened
+it wide, and listened with delight to the closing lines of the song.
+
+Then she sang that song that thrilled the hearts of thousands of English
+soldiers in the Crimea on the eve of the battle of Inkermann, "Annie
+Laurie," and it was with difficulty that Quincy refrained from joining
+in the chorus. Surely Annie Laurie could have been no purer, no sweeter,
+no more beautiful, than Alice Pettengill; and Quincy felt that he could
+do and die for the girl who was singing in the parlor, as truly as would
+have the discarded suitor who wrote the immortal song.
+
+But Quincy was destined to be still more astonished. Alice played a
+short prelude that seemed familiar to him, and then her voice rang out
+the words of that beautiful duet that Quincy had sung with Lindy Putnam
+at the singing-master's concert. Yes, it was Jewell's "Over the Bridge."
+This was too much for Quincy. He went quietly down the stairs and looked
+in at the parlor door, which was wide open. Alice was seated at the
+piano, and again the sun, in its westward downward course, shone in at
+the window, and lighted up her crown of golden hair. This time she had
+reversed the colors which she evidently knew became her so well, and
+wore a dress of light pink, while a light blue knitted shawl, similar to
+its pink companion, lay upon the chair beside her.
+
+When she reached the duet Quincy did not attempt to control himself any
+further, but joined in with her, and they sang the piece together to the
+end.
+
+Alice turned upon the piano stool, faced the door and clapped her hands.
+
+"That was capital, Mr. Sawyer. I didn't know that you sang so well. In
+fact, I didn't know that you sang at all."
+
+"How did you know it was I?" said Quincy, as he advanced towards her.
+"It is a little cool here, Miss Pettengill. Allow me to place your shawl
+about you;" and, suiting the action to the word, he put it gently over
+her shoulders.
+
+"Yes," said Alice, "I put it on when I first came down. It interfered
+with my playing and I threw it into the chair."
+
+"May I take the chair, now that it is unoccupied?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," said Alice, "if you will give me your word of honor that you did
+not try to make me think it was cold: here, so that you could get the
+chair."
+
+Quincy replied with a laugh, "If I did my reward is a great return for
+my power of invention, but I assure you I was thinking of your health
+and not of the chair, when I tendered my services."
+
+"You are an adept in sweet speeches, Mr. Sawyer. You city young men all
+are; but our country youth, who are just as true and honest, are at a
+great disadvantage, because they cannot say what they think in so
+pleasing a way."
+
+"I hope you do not think I am insincere," remarked Quincy, gravely.
+
+"Not at all," said Alice, "but I have not answered your question. How
+did I know that it was you? You must remember, Mr. Sawyer, that those
+who cannot see have their hearing accentuated, and the ear kindly sends
+those pictures to the brain which unfortunately the eye cannot supply."
+
+"I have enjoyed your playing and singing immensely," said Quincy. "Let
+us try that duet again."
+
+They sang it again, and then they went from piece to piece, each
+suggesting her or his favorite, and it was not till Mandy's shrill voice
+once more called out with more than usual force and sharpness, "Supper's
+ready," that the piano was closed and Quincy, for the first time taking
+Alice's hand in his, led her from the parlor, which was almost shrouded
+in darkness, into the bright light of the dining-room, where they took
+their accustomed seats. They ate but little, their hearts were full of
+the melody that each had enjoyed so much.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+SOME MORE NEW IDEAS.
+
+
+When Ezekiel and Cobb's twins returned from West Eastborough, they said
+the air felt like snow. Mandy had kept some supper for them. Ezekiel
+said they had supper over to Eastborough Centre, but the home cooking
+smelled so good that all three sat down in the kitchen and disposed of
+what Mandy had provided.
+
+The other members of the Pettengill household were in their respective
+rooms. Uncle Ike was reading a magazine. Alice had not retired, for
+Mandy always came to her room before she did so to see that her fire was
+all right for the night. Alice was a great lover of music and she had
+enjoyed the afternoon almost as much as Quincy had. She could not help
+thinking what musical treats might be in store for them, and then the
+thought came to her how she would miss him when he went back to Boston.
+
+In the next room, Quincy was pursuing a similar line of thought. He was
+thinking of the nice times that Alice and he could have singing
+together. To be sure he wished to do nothing to make his father angry,
+for Quincy appreciated the power of money. He knew that with his
+mother's third deducted, his fathers estate would give him between two
+and three hundred thousand dollars. He had some money in his own right
+left him by a fond aunt, his father's sister, the income from which gave
+him a good living without calling upon his father.
+
+He knew his father wished him to become a lawyer, and keep up the old
+firm which was so well known in legal and business circles, but Quincy
+in his heart realized that he was not equal to it, and the future had
+little attraction for him, if it were to be passed in the law offices of
+Sawyer, Crowninshield, & Lawrence. At any rate his health was not fully
+restored and he determined to stay at Mason's Corner as long as he could
+do so without causing a break in the friendly relations existing between
+his father and himself. His present income was enough for his personal
+needs, but it was not sufficient to also support a Mrs. Quincy Adams
+Sawyer.
+
+What Ezekiel had prophesied came true. No one knew just when the storm
+began, but the picture that greeted Mandy Skinner's eyes when she came
+down to get breakfast was a great contrast to that of the previous day.
+
+The snow had fallen steadily in large, heavy flakes, the road and the
+fields showed an even, unbroken surface of white; the tops of the taller
+fences were yet above the snow line, each post wearing a white cap. As
+the morning advanced the storm increased, the wind blew, and great
+drifts were indications of its power. The thick clouds of white flakes
+were thrown in every direction, and only dire necessity, it seemed,
+would be a sufficient reason for leaving a comfortable fireside.
+
+Mandy and Mrs. Crowley were busily engaged in preparing the morning
+meal, when a loud scratching at a door, which led into a large room that
+was used as an addition to the kitchen, attracted their attention. In
+bounded Swiss, the big St. Bernard dog belonging to Uncle Ike. At Uncle
+Ike's special request Swiss had not been banished to the barn or the
+wood-shed, but had been allowed to sleep on a pallet in the corner of
+the large room referred to.
+
+Swiss was a great favorite with Mandy, and he was a great friend of
+hers, for Swiss was very particular about his food, and he had found
+Mandy to be a much better cook than Uncle Ike had been; besides the
+fare was more bounteous at the Pettengill homestead than down at the
+chicken coop, and Swiss had gained in weight and strength since his
+change of quarters.
+
+After breakfast Uncle Ike came into the kitchen and received a warm
+welcome from Swiss. Uncle Ike told Mandy and Mrs. Crowley the well-known
+story of the rescues of lost travellers made by the St. Bernard dogs on
+the snow-clad mountains of Switzerland. When Mrs. Crowley learned that
+Swiss had come from a country a great many miles farther away from
+America than Ireland was, he rose greatly in her estimation and she made
+no objection to his occupying a warm corner of the kitchen.
+
+About noon, when the storm was at its very worst, Mandy, who was looking
+out of the kitchen window, espied something black in the road about
+halfway between Deacon Mason's and the Pettengill house. She called Mrs.
+Crowley to the window and asked her what she thought it was.
+
+"That's aisy," said Mrs. Crowley, "It's a man coming down the road."
+
+"What can bring a man out in such a storm as this?" asked Mandy.
+
+"Perhaps he is going for the docther," remarked Mrs. Crowley.
+
+"Then he would be going the other way," asserted Mandy.
+
+"He's a plucky little divil anyway," said Mrs. Crowley.
+
+"That's so," said Mandy. "He is all right as long as he keeps on his
+feet, but if he should fall down--"
+
+At that moment the man did fall down or disappear from sight. Mandy
+pressed her face against the window pane and looked with strained eyes.
+He was up again, she could see the dark clothing above the top of the
+snow.
+
+What was that! A cry? The sound was repeated.
+
+"I do believe the man is calling for help," cried Mandy.
+
+She rushed to the kitchen door and opened it. A gust of snow swept into
+the room, followed by a stream of cold, chilling air. Swiss awoke from
+his nap and lifted, his head. Despite the storm, Mandy stood at the door
+and screamed "Hello!" with her sharp, strident voice. Could she believe
+her ears? Through the howling storm came a word uttered in a voice which
+her woman's heart at once recognized. The word was "Mandy," and the
+voice was Hiram's.
+
+"What on earth is he out in this storm for?" said Mandy to herself. She
+called back in response, "Hello! Hello! Hello!" and once more her own
+name was borne to her through the beating, driving storm.
+
+She shut the door and resumed her post at the window. Hiram was still
+struggling manfully against the storm and had made considerable
+progress.
+
+Mandy turned to Mrs. Crowley and said, "Mr. Maxwell is coming, Mrs.
+Crowley."
+
+"More fool he," remarked Mrs. Crowley, "to be out in a storm like this."
+
+"Get some cider, Mrs. Crowley," said Mandy, "and put it on the stove. He
+will need a good warm drink when he gets here."
+
+"If he was a son of mine he'd get a good warmin'," said Mrs. Crowley, as
+she went down cellar to get the cider.
+
+Mandy still strained her eyes at the window. The dark form was still
+visible, moving slowly through the snow. At that moment a terrific storm
+of wind struck the house; it made every window and timber rattle; great
+clouds of snow were swept up from the ground to mingle with those coming
+from above, and the two were thrown into a whirling eddy that struck the
+poor traveller and took him from his feet, covering him from sight.
+Mandy rushed to the door and opened it. This time she did not scream
+"Hello." The word this time was "Hiram! He is lost! He is lost!" she
+cried. "His strength has given out; but what shall I do? I could not
+reach him if I tried. Oh, Hiram! Hiram!" and the poor girl burst into
+tears. She would call Mr. Pettengill; she would call Cobb's twins; she
+would call Mr. Sawyer; one of them would surely go to his assistance.
+
+She turned, and to her surprise found Swiss by her side, looking up at
+her with his large, intelligent eyes. Quick as lightning, Uncle Ike's
+story came back to her mind. She patted Swiss on the head, and pointed
+out into the storm.
+
+Not another word was needed. With a bound Swiss went into the snow and
+rapidly forward in the direction of the road. Mandy was obliged to close
+the door again and resume her place at the window. How her heart beat!
+How she watched the dog as he ploughed his way through the drifts? He
+must be near the place. Yes, he is scratching and digging down into the
+snow. Now the dark form appears once more. Yes, Hiram is on his feet
+again and man and dog resume their fight with the elements.
+
+It seemed an age to Mandy, but it was in reality not more than five
+minutes, before Hiram and Swiss reached the kitchen door and came into
+the room.
+
+"Come out into the back room," said Mandy to Hiram. "I don't want this
+snow all over my kitchen floor." So Hiram and Swiss were taken into the
+big room and in a short time came back in presentable condition.
+
+"Now, Mr. Maxwell, if you have recovered the use of your tongue, will
+you kindly inform me what sent you out in such a storm as this?"
+
+"Well," replied Hiram, "I reckoned I'd git down kinder early in the
+mornin' and git back afore dark."
+
+"That's all right," said Mandy; "but that don't tell me what you are out
+for, anyway."
+
+"Well, you didn't suppose," said Hiram, "that I could go all day long
+without seein' you, did yer, Mandy?"
+
+Mrs. Crowley chuckled to herself and went into the side room. Even Swiss
+seemed to recognize that two were company and he followed Mrs. Crowley
+and resumed his old resting place in the corner on the pallet.
+
+As Mrs. Crowley went about her work, she chuckled again, and said to
+herself, "It's a weddin' I'll be goin' to next time in place of a
+funeral."
+
+Upstairs other important events were taking place. Quincy had gone to
+his room directly after breakfast, and looked out upon the wild scene of
+storm with a sense of loneliness that had not hitherto oppressed him.
+Why should he be lonely? Was he not in the same house with her, with
+only a thin wall of wood and plaster between them? Yes, but if that wall
+had been of granite one hundred feet thick, it could not have shut him
+off more effectually from seeing her lovely face and hearing her sweet
+voice.
+
+There came a sharp rap at the door.
+
+"Come in," called out Quincy.
+
+"Ah!" said Uncle Ike as he entered, "I am glad to see you have a good
+fire. The snow has blown down into Alice's room and her fire is out.
+Will you let her step in here for a few moments, Mr. Sawyer, until 'Zeke
+and I get the room warm again?"
+
+"Why, certainly," replied Quincy. "I am only too happy--"
+
+But Uncle Ike was off, and returned in a few moments leading Alice.
+Quincy placed a chair for her before the fire. This cold wintry day she
+wore a morning dress of a shade of red which, despite its bright color,
+seemed to harmonize with the golden hair and to take the place of the
+sun, which was not there to light it up.
+
+"If Miss Pettengill prefers," said Quincy, "I can make myself
+comfortable in the dining-room, and she can have my room to herself."
+
+He had started this speech to Uncle Ike, who left the room abruptly in
+the middle of it, and Quincy's closing words fell on Alice's ears alone.
+
+"Why, certainly not," said Alice; "sit down, Mr. Sawyer, and we will
+talk about something. Don't you think it is terrible?" As Quincy was
+contemplating his fair visitor, he could hardly be expected to say "yes"
+to her question. "Perhaps you enjoy it?" said she.
+
+"I certainly do," answered Quincy, throwing his whole heart into his
+eyes.
+
+"Well, I must differ with you," said Alice. "I never did like snow."
+
+"Oh, you were talking about the weather!" remarked Quincy.
+
+"Why, yes," said Alice. "What else did you think I was talking about?"
+
+Quincy, cool and self-possessed as he invariably was, was a trifle
+embarrassed.
+
+Turning to Alice he said, "I see, Miss Pettengill, that I must make you
+a frank statement in order that you may retain your respect for me. I
+know you will pardon me for not hearing what you said, and for what I am
+about to say; but the fact is, I was wondering whether you have had the
+best advice and assistance that the medical science of to-day can afford
+you as regards your eyes."
+
+"It is very kind of you, Mr. Sawyer, to think of me, and my trouble, and
+I will answer you in the same friendly way in which you have spoken. I
+was taken sick one morning just as I was eating my breakfast I never
+felt better in my life than I did that morning, but the pain in my side
+was so intense, so agonizing, that by the time I reached my room and
+threw myself on the bed, physically I was a complete wreck. A doctor was
+called at once and he remained with me from eight o'clock until noon
+before I became comfortable. I thought I was going to get better right
+off, or I should have written to 'Zekiel. Two other attacks, each more
+severe than the one preceding, followed the first, and I was so sick
+that writing, or telling any one else what to write, or where to write,
+was impossible. Then I began slowly to recover, but I was very weak and
+what made me feel worse than ever was the fact that the trouble with my
+eyes, which before my illness I had attributed to nearsightedness, was
+now so marked that I could not see across the room. I could not even see
+to turn a spoonful of medicine from a bottle on the table beside my bed.
+The Pettengills, Mr. Sawyer, are a self-reliant race, and I concluded in
+my own mind that the trouble with my eyes was due to my illness, and
+that when I recovered from that, they would get well; but they did not.
+I was able, physically, to resume my work, but I could not see to read
+or write. I sent for my employer and told him my condition. He advised
+me to consult an oculist at once. In fact, he got a carriage and took me
+to one himself. The oculist said that the treatment would require at
+least three months; so my employer told me I had better come home, and
+that when I recovered I could have my place back again. He is a fine,
+generous-hearted man and I should be very miserable if I thought I was
+going to lose my place."
+
+"But what did the oculist say was the trouble with your eyes?" Quincy
+asked.
+
+"He didn't tell me," replied Alice. "He may have told my employer. He
+gave me some drops to put in my eyes three times a day; and a little
+metal tube with a cover to it like the top of a pepper box; on the other
+end is a piece of rubber tubing, with a glass mouthpiece attached to it"
+
+"How do you use that?" asked Quincy.
+
+Alice continued, "I hold the pepper box in front of my wide-opened eye;
+then I put the glass mouthpiece in my mouth and blow, for a certain
+length of time. I don't know how long it is. It seems as though a
+thousand needles were driven into my eyeball. The drops make me cry;
+but the little tube brings the tears in torrents."
+
+"Isn't that harsh treatment?" asked Quincy, as he looked at the
+beautiful blue but sightless eyes that were turned towards him.
+
+"No," said Alice with a laugh, "the pain and the tears are like an April
+shower, for both soon pass away."
+
+At this moment Uncle Ike entered the room and Ezekiel's steps were heard
+descending the stairs. Uncle Ike said, "We have got it started and
+'Zeke's gone down to bring up a good stock of wood. If you have no
+objection, Mr. Sawyer, I will sit down here a few minutes. Don't let me
+interrupt your conversation."
+
+"I hope you will take a part in it," said Quincy. "You put a lot of new
+ideas into my head the first time I came to see you, and perhaps you may
+have some more new ones for me to-day. Miss Pettengill was just saying
+she would feel miserable if she lost her situation."
+
+"I have no doubt of it," said Uncle Ike. "The Pettengills are not afraid
+to work. If a man is obliged to earn his living by the sweat of his
+brow, I don't see why woman shouldn't do the same thing."
+
+"But the home is woman's sphere," said Quincy.
+
+"Bosh!" cried Uncle Ike.
+
+"Why, Uncle!" cried Alice.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Sawyer understands me!" said Uncle Ike. "In the Middle Ages,
+when women occupied the highest position that has fallen to her lot
+since the days of Adam, the housework was done by menials and scullions.
+Has the world progressed when woman is pulled down from her high estate
+and this life of drudgery is called her sphere? Beg your pardon, Mr.
+Sawyer, but there should be no more limit fixed to the usefulness of
+woman than there is to the usefulness of man."
+
+"But," persisted Alice, "I don't think Mr. Sawyer means that exactly.
+He means a woman should stay at home and look after her family."
+
+"Well," said Uncle Ike, "so should the man. I am inclined to think if
+the father spent more time at home, it would be for the advantage of
+both sons and daughters."
+
+"But," said Quincy, "do you think it is for the best interests of the
+community that woman should force her way into all branches of industry
+and compete with man for a livelihood?"
+
+"Why not?" said Uncle Ike. "In the old days when they didn't work, for
+they didn't know how and didn't want to, because they thought it was
+beneath them, if a man died, his wife and children became dependent upon
+some brother or sister or uncle or aunt, and they were obliged to
+provide for them out of their own small income or savings. In those days
+it was respectable to be genteelly poor, and starve rather than work and
+live on the fat of the land. Nothing has ever done so much to increase
+the self-respect of woman, and add to her feeling of independence, as
+the knowledge of the fact that she can support herself." Alice bowed her
+head and covered her eyes with her hand. "There's nothing personal in
+what I say," said Uncle Ike. "I am only talking on general principles."
+
+Quincy yearned to say something against Uncle Ike's argument, but how
+could he advance anything against woman's work when the one who sat
+before him was a workingwoman and was weeping because she could not
+work? There was one thing he could do, he could change the subject to
+one where there was an opportunity for debate. So he said, "Well, Mr.
+Pettengill, I presume if you are such an ardent advocate of woman's
+right or even duty to work, that you are also a supporter of her right
+to vote."
+
+"That does not follow," replied Uncle Ike. "To be self-reliant,
+independent, and self-supporting is a pleasure and a duty, and adds to
+one's self-respect. As voting is done at the present day, I do not see
+how woman can take part in it and maintain her self-respect.
+Improvements no doubt will be made in the manner of voting. The ballot
+will become secret, and the count will not be disclosed until after the
+voting is finished. The rum stores will be closed on voting day and an
+air of respectability will be given to it that it does not now possess.
+It ought to be made a legal holiday."
+
+"Granted," said Quincy, "but what has that to do with the question of
+woman's right to vote?"
+
+"Woman has no inherent right to vote," said Uncle Ike. "The ballot is a
+privilege, not a right. Why, I remember reading during the war that
+young soldiers, between eighteen and twenty-one years of age, claimed
+the ballot as a right, because they were fighting for their country. If
+voting is a right, what argument could be used against their claim?"
+
+"I remember," added Quincy, "that they argued that 'bullets should win
+ballots.' Do you think any one should vote who cannot fight?" asked
+Quincy.
+
+"If he does not shirk his duty between eighteen and forty-five," said
+Uncle Ike, "he should not be deprived of his ballot when he is older;
+but the question of woman's voting does not depend upon her ability to
+fight. The mother at home thinking of her son, the sister thinking of
+her brother, the wife thinking of her husband, are as loyally fighting
+for their native land as the soldiers in the field, and no soldier is
+braver than the hospital nurse, who, day after day and night after
+night, watches by the bedsides of the wounded, the sick, and the dying.
+No, Mr. Sawyer, it is not a question of fighting or bravery."
+
+During the discussion Alice had dried her eyes and was listening to her
+uncle's words. She now asked a question, "When will women vote, Uncle?"
+
+"When it is deemed expedient for them to do so," replied Uncle Ike. "The
+full privilege will not be given all at once. They will probably be
+allowed to vote on some one matter in which they are deeply interested.
+Education and the rum question are the ones most likely to be acted upon
+first. But the full ballot will not come, and now I know Alice will
+shake her head and say, 'No!' I repeat it--the full ballot will not come
+for woman until our social superstructure is changed. Woman will not
+become the political equal of man until she is his social and industrial
+equal; and until any contract of whatever nature made by a man and a
+woman may be dissolved by them by mutual consent, without their becoming
+criminals in the eye of the law, or outcasts in the eyes of society."
+
+At this moment Ezekiel looked in the door and said, "Alice's room is
+nice and warm now." Advancing, he took her hand and led her from the
+room. Uncle Ike thanked Quincy for his kindness and followed them.
+Quincy sat and thought. The picture that his mind drew placed the woman
+who had just left his room in a large house, with servants at her
+command. She was the head of the household, but no menial nor scullion.
+She did not work, because he was able and willing to support her. She
+did not vote, because she felt with him that at home was her sphere of
+usefulness; and then Quincy thought that what would make this possible
+was money, money that not he but others had earned, and he knew that
+without this money the question could not be solved as his mind had
+pictured it; and he reflected that all women could not have great houses
+and servants and loving husbands to care for them, and he acknowledged
+to himself that his solution was a personal, selfish one and not one
+that would answer for the toiling million's of the working world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+AFTER THE GREAT SNOWSTORM.
+
+
+Mandy was, of course, greatly pleased inwardly because Hiram had come
+through such a great storm to see her, but, woman-like, she would not
+show it.
+
+So she said to Hiram, "Your reason is a very good one, and of course I
+am greatly flattered, but there must be something else besides that.
+Now, what have you got to tell me?"
+
+"Well, the fact is, Mandy, I've got two things on my mind. One of 'em is
+a secret and t'other isn't. I meant to have told you yesterday; but Mr.
+Sawyer kept me busy till noon, and the Deacon kept me busy all the
+afternoon, and I was too tired to come over last night."
+
+"Well," said Mandy, "tell me the secret first. If the other one has kept
+so long it won't spoil if it's kept a little longer."
+
+Hiram had kept his eyes on the stove since taking his seat, and he then
+remarked, "I am afraid that cider will spoil unless I get a drink of it
+pretty soon."
+
+"Well, I declare," cried Mandy, "if I didn't forget to give it to you,
+after sending Mrs. Crowley down stairs for it, when you was out there in
+the road."
+
+"That's all right," said Hiram, as he finished the mugful she passed
+him, and handed it back to be refilled. "That sort o' limbers a feller's
+tongue a bit. Well, the secret is," said Hiram, lowering his voice,
+"that when Huldy saw me gettin' ready to go out, sez she, 'Where are you
+goin'?' 'Over to Mr. Pettengill's,' sez I. Then sez she, 'Will you wait
+a minute till I write a note?' 'Certainly,' sez I. And when she brought
+me the note, sez she, 'Please give that to Mr. Pettengill and don't let
+anybody else see it.' Then sez I to her, 'No, ma'am;' but I sez to
+myself, 'Nobody but Mandy.'" And Hiram took from an inside pocket an
+envelope, addressed to Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill, and showed it to Mandy.
+Then he put it back quickly in his pocket.
+
+"Well, what of that?" asked Mandy. "That's no great secret."
+
+"Well, not in itself," said Hiram; "but I am willing to bet a year's
+salary agin a big red apple that those two people have made up and are
+engaged reg'lar fashion."
+
+"You don't say so," cried Mandy, "what makes you think so?"
+
+"Well, a number of things," said Hiram. "I overheard the Deacon say to
+Huldy, 'It will be pretty lonesome for us one of these days,' and then
+you see Mrs. Mason, she is just as good as pie to me all the time, and
+that shows something has pleased her more than common; and then you see
+Huldy has that sort of look about her that girls have when their
+market's made, and they feel so happy that they can't help showing it.
+You see, Mandy, I'm no chicken. I've had lots of experience."
+
+What Mandy might have said in reply to this remark will never be known,
+for at this juncture Ezekiel entered the room and passed through on his
+way to the wood-shed.
+
+"Now's my time," said Hiram, and he arose and followed him out.
+
+Ezekiel was piling up some wood which he was to take to Alice's room,
+when Hiram came up beside him and slyly passed him the note. Then Hiram
+looked out of the wood-shed window at the storm, which had lost none of
+its fury, while Ezekiel read the note.
+
+"Are you going home soon?" asked Ezekiel.
+
+"Well, I guess I'll try it again," said Hiram, "as soon as I get warm
+and kinder limbered up."
+
+"I guess I'll go back with you," said Ezekiel. "We will take Swiss with
+us; two men and a dog ought to be enough for a little snowstorm like
+this."
+
+"You won't find it a little one," said Hiram, "when you get out in the
+road, but I guess the three on us can pull through."
+
+Ezekiel went upstairs with the wood and Hiram resumed his seat before
+the kitchen fire.
+
+"What did I tell you?" said Hiram to Mandy. "'Zeke's going back with me.
+She has writ him to come over and see her. Now you see if you don't lose
+your apple."
+
+"I didn't bet," said Mandy; "but what was that other thing you were
+going to tell me that was no secret?"
+
+"Oh, that's about another couple," said Hiram. "Tilly James is engaged."
+
+"Well, it's about time," said Mandy. "Which one of them?"
+
+"Samuel Hill," replied Hiram, "and she managed it fust rate. You know
+the boys have been flocking round her for more than a year. Old Ben
+James, her pa, told me he'd got to put in a new hitchin' post. You see,
+there has been Robert Wood and 'Manuel Howe and Arthur Scates and Cobb's
+twins and Ben Bates and Sam Hill, but Samuel was the cutest one of the
+lot."
+
+"Why, what did he do that was bright?" asked Mandy.
+
+"Well," replied Hiram, "you see, Tilly sot down and writ invites to all
+the boys that had been sparkin' 'round her to come to see her the same
+night. She gave these invites to her brother Bill to deliver. Well, Sam
+Hill met him, found out what he was about, and kinder surmised what it
+all meant. Wall, the night came 'round and Sam Hill was the only one
+that turned up at the time app'inted. After talkin' about the weather,
+last year's crops, and spring plantin', Sam just braced up and proposed,
+and Tilly accepted him on the spot."
+
+"Where were the other fellers?" asked Mandy. "I always surmised that she
+thought more of Ben Bates than she did of Sam Hill."
+
+"Well, it didn't come out till a couple of days afterwards," said Hiram.
+"You see, the shortest way to old James's place is to go over the mill
+race, and all of the fellers but Sam Hill went that way, and the joke of
+it was that they all fell over into the river and got a duckin'."
+
+"Well," said Mandy, "they must have been drinking. Tilly is well rid of
+the whole lot of them. Why, I've walked over that log time and time
+again."
+
+"Well, they hadn't been drinkin'," said Hiram. "You see it was pretty
+dark and they didn't get on to the fact that the log was greased till it
+was kinder too late to rectify matters."
+
+"And did Sam Hill do that?" asked Mandy.
+
+"He did," said Hiram; and he burst into a loud laugh, in which Mandy
+joined.
+
+The laughing was quickly hushed as the kitchen door opened and Ezekiel
+entered, warmly dressed for his fight with the snow and carrying a heavy
+cane in his hand.
+
+"Call the dog, Hiram," said Ezekiel, "and we'll start. Mandy, tell Jim
+and Bill to come over to Deacon Mason's for me about four o'clock,
+unless it looks too bad; if it does they needn't try it till to-morrow
+morning."
+
+"All ready," said he to Hiram, who was patting Swiss's head, and off
+they started.
+
+Again Mandy went to the window and watched the progress of the
+travellers. Mrs. Crowley came into the kitchen and seeing Mandy at the
+window quietly turned out a mug of the hot cider and drank it. She then
+approached Mandy and said, "What was all the laughin' about? I like a
+good joke myself."
+
+Mandy said, "Oh, he was telling me about a girl that invited all her
+fellers to come and see her the same evening, and only one of them got
+there because he greased the log over the mill race, and all the rest of
+them fell into the water."
+
+"It was a mane trick," said Mrs. Crowley. "Now, when all the boys were
+after me, for I was a good lookin' girl once, Pat Crowley, he was me
+husband, had a fight on hand every night for a fortnight and all on
+account of me; and they do say there were never so many heads broken in
+the County of Tipperary on account of one girl since the days of St.
+Patrick."
+
+Mandy had paid but little attention to Mrs. Crowley's speech. She was
+too busy watching the travellers. Mrs. Crowley filled and emptied the
+mug once more.
+
+The last potation was too much for her equilibrium, and forgetting the
+step that led from the kitchen to the side room, she lost her balance
+and fell prone upon the floor. Her loud cries obliged Mandy to turn from
+the window, but not until she had seen that the travellers had reached
+the fence before Deacon Mason's house, and she knew they were safe for
+the present. Mrs. Crowley was lifted to her feet by Mandy. The old woman
+declared that she was "kilt intirely," but Mandy soon learned the cause
+of the accident, and returning to the kitchen closed the door and
+continued her morning duties.
+
+Before Ezekiel left the house he had interrupted Quincy's meditations by
+knocking on his door, and when admitted told him that he had had a
+letter from Huldy.
+
+"She is kind of lonesome," he said, "and wants me to come over to see
+her."
+
+"But it is a terrible storm," said Quincy, looking out of the window.
+
+"Oh," said Ezekiel, "we'll be all right! Hiram is going with me, and we
+are going to take Swiss along with us. Now, Mr. Sawyer, I am going to
+ask you to do me and Alice a favor. Uncle Ike is upstairs busy reading,
+and if you will kinder look out for Alice till I get back I shall be
+greatly obliged."
+
+Quincy promised and Ezekiel departed.
+
+Quincy thought the fates had favored him in imposing upon him such a
+pleasant task. But where was she, and what could he do to amuse her?
+Then he thought, "We can sing together as we did yesterday."
+
+He went down stairs to the parlor, thinking she might be there, but the
+room was empty. The fire was low, but the supply of wood was ample, and
+in a short time the great room was warm and comfortable. Quincy seated
+himself at the piano, played a couple of pieces and then sang a couple;
+he did not think while singing the second song that he had possibly
+transcended propriety, but when he sang the closing lines of "Alice,
+Where Art Thou?" it suddenly dawned upon him, and, full of vexation, he
+arose and walked to the window and looked out upon the howling storm.
+
+Suddenly he heard a sweet voice say, "I am here." And then a low laugh
+reached his ear.
+
+Turning, he saw Alice standing in the middle of the room, while Mandy's
+retreating figure showed who had been her escort. Her brother Ezekiel
+had rigged a bell wire from her room to the kitchen, so that she could
+call Mandy when she needed her assistance.
+
+"I beg your pardon, Miss Pettengill," said Quincy, advancing towards
+her. "The song has always been a favorite of mine, but I never thought
+of its personal application until I reached the closing words. I trust
+you do not think I was so presuming as to--"
+
+Alice smiled and said, "The song is also a favorite one of mine, Mr.
+Sawyer, and you sang it beautifully. No apologies are needed, for the
+fact is I was just saying to myself, 'Mr. Sawyer, where are you?' for
+'Zekiel told me that he was going to speak to you and ask you to help me
+drive away those lonesome feelings that always come to me on a day like
+this. I cannot see the storm, but I can hear it and feel it."
+
+As Quincy advanced towards her he saw she held several sheets of paper
+in her hand.
+
+"I am at your service," said he. "I am only afraid that your
+requirements will exceed my ability."
+
+"Very prettily spoken," said Alice, as Quincy led her to a seat by the
+fire, and took one himself. "I am going to confess to you," said she,
+"one of my criminal acts. I am going to ask you to sit as judge and mete
+out what you consider a suitable punishment for my offence."
+
+"What crime have you committed?" asked Quincy gravely.
+
+Alice laughed, shook the papers she held in her hand, and said, "I have
+written poetry."
+
+"The crime is a great one," said Quincy. "But if the poetry be good it
+may serve to mitigate your sentence. Are those the evidences of your
+crime you hold in your hand, Miss Pettingill?"
+
+"Yes," she answered, as she passed a written sheet to him; "I wrote them
+before my eyes failed me. Perhaps you will find it hard to read them.
+Which one is that?" she asked.
+
+"It is headed, 'On the Banks of the Tallahassee,'" replied Quincy.
+
+"Oh!" cried Alice, "I didn't write that song myself. A gentleman friend,
+who is now dead, was the author of it. But he couldn't write a chorus
+and he asked me to do it for him. The idea of the chorus is moonlight on
+the river."
+
+"Shall I read it?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Only the chorus part, if you please," replied Alice, "and be as lenient
+as you can, good Mr. Judge, for that was my first offence."
+
+Quincy, in a smooth, even voice, read the following words:
+
+    The moon's bright rays,
+    In a silver maze,
+          Fall on the rushing river;
+    Each ray of light
+    Like an arrow white
+          Drawn from a crystal quiver.
+    They romp and play,
+    In a wond'rous way,
+          On tree and shrub and flower;
+    And fill the night
+    With a radiant light,
+          That falls like a silver shower.
+
+"You do not say anything," said Alice, as Quincy finished reading and
+remained silent.
+
+He replied, "You have conferred judicial functions upon me and a judge
+does not give his opinion until the evidence is all in."
+
+"Ah! I see," said Alice. "My knowledge of metrical composition," she
+continued, "is very limited. What I know of it I learned from an old
+copy of Fowler's Grammar that I bought at Burnham's on School Street
+soon after I went to Boston. I have always called what you just read a
+poem. Is it one?" she asked, looking up with a smile.
+
+"I think it is," replied Quincy, "and," he added inadvertently, "a very
+pretty one, too."
+
+"Oh! Mr. Judge," laughing outright "you have given aid and comfort to
+the prisoner before the evidence was all in."
+
+And Quincy was forced to laugh heartily at the acuteness she had shown
+in forcing his opinion from him prematurely."
+
+"Now, this one," said Alice, "I call a song. I know which one it is by
+the size and thickness of the paper." And she handed him a foolscap
+sheet.
+
+Quincy took it and glanced over it a moment or two before he spoke,
+Alice leaning forward and listening intently for the first sound of his
+voice. Then Quincy uttered those ever pleasing words, "Sweet, Sweet
+Home," and delivered, with great expression, the words of the song.
+
+"You read it splendidly," cried Alice, with evident delight. "Would it
+be presuming on your kindness if I asked you to read the refrain and
+chorus once more, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I shall enjoy reading it again myself," remarked Quincy, as he
+proceeded to comply with Alice's pleasantly worded request.
+
+        REFRAIN:
+
+            There is no place like home, they say,
+            No matter where it be;
+            The lordly mansion of the rich,
+            The hut of poverty.
+            The little cot, the tenement,
+            The white-winged ship at sea;
+            The heart will always seek its home,
+            Wherever it may be.
+
+        CHORUS:
+
+    Sweet, sweet home!
+      To that sweet place where youth was passed our thoughts will turn;
+    Sweet, sweet home!
+      Will send the blood to flaming face, and hearts will burn.
+    Sweet, sweet home!
+      It binds us to our native land where'er we roam,
+    No land so fair, no sky so blue,
+    As those we find when back we come to sweet, sweet home!
+
+"Of course you know that lovely song, 'Juanita'?" said Alice.
+
+"Certainly," said Quincy, and he sang the first line of the chorus.
+
+Alice's voice joined in with his, and they finished the chorus together.
+A thrill went through Quincy as he sang the last line, and he was
+conscious that his voice quivered when he came to the words, "Be my own
+fair bride."
+
+"You sing with great expression," said Alice, "If you like these new
+words that I have written to that old melody we can sing them together.
+I have called it Loved Days. I think this is the one," she said, as she
+passed him several small sheets pinned together.
+
+"It is," said Quincy, as he took the paper and read it slowly.
+
+As before, he said nothing when he had finished.
+
+"Mr. Judge," said Alice, "would it be improper, from a judicial point of
+view, for me to ask you which lines in the song you have just read
+please you the most? But perhaps," said she, looking up at him, "none of
+them are worthy of repetition."
+
+"If you will consider for a moment," replied Quincy, "that I am off the
+bench and am just sitting here quietly with you, I will say,
+confidentially, that I am particularly well pleased with this;" and he
+read a portion of the first stanza:
+
+    On Great Heaven's beauties,
+     Gaze the eyes I loved to see,
+    Done earth's weary duties,
+     Now, eternity.
+
+"And," continued Quincy, "I think these lines from the second stanza are
+fully equal to those I have just read."
+
+    But my soul, still living,
+     Speaks its words of comfort sweet,
+    Grandest promise giving
+     That again we'll meet.
+
+"I should think," continued Quincy, "that those words were particularly
+well suited to be sung at a funeral. I shall have to ask my friend
+Bradley to have his quartette learn them, so as to be ready when I need
+them."
+
+"Oh! Mr. Sawyer," cried Alice, with a strong tone of reproof in her
+voice, "how can you speak so lightly of death?"
+
+"Pardon me," replied Quincy, "if I have unintentionally wounded your
+feelings, but after all life is only precious to those who have
+something to live for."
+
+"But you certainly," said Alice, "can see something in life worth living
+for."
+
+"Yes," assented Quincy, "I can see it, but I am not satisfied in my own
+mind that I shall ever be able to possess it."
+
+"Oh, you must work and wait and hope!" cried Alice.
+
+"I shall be happy to," he said, "if you will be kind and say an
+encouraging word to me, so that I may not grow weary of the battle of
+life."
+
+"I should be pleased to help you all I can," she said sweetly.
+
+"I shall need your help," Quincy remarked gravely, and then with a quick
+change in tone he said playfully, "I think it is about time for the
+judge to get back upon the bench."
+
+"This," said Alice, as she passed him a manuscript enclosed in a cover,
+"is my capital offence. If I escape punishment for my other
+misdemeanors, I know I shall not when you have read this." And she
+handed him the paper.
+
+Quincy opened it and read, The Lord of the Sea, a Cantata.
+
+CHARACTERS.
+
+Canute, the Great, King of England and Denmark.
+A Courtier.
+An Irish Harper.
+Queen Emma, the "Flower of Normandy."
+Courtiers, Monks, and Gleemen.
+
+PLACE.
+
+Part I.--The palace of the king.
+Part II.--The seashore at Southampton.
+Time--About A.D. 1030.
+
+As he proceeded with the reading he became greatly interested in it. He
+had a fine voice and had taken a prize for oratory at Harvard.
+
+When he finished he turned to Alice and said, "And you wrote that?"
+
+"Certainly," said she. "Can you forgive me?"
+
+Quincy said seriously, "Miss Pettengill, that is a fine poem; it is
+grand when read, but it would be grander still if set to music. I can
+imagine," Quincy continued, "how those choruses would sound if sung by
+the Handel and Haydn Society, backed up by a full orchestra and the big
+organ." And he sang, to an extemporized melody of his own, the words:
+
+    God bless the king of the English,
+    The Lord of the land,
+    The Lord of the sea!
+
+"I can imagine," said he, as he rose and stood before Alice, "King
+Canute as a heavy-voiced basso. How he would bring out these words!
+
+    Great sea! the land on which I stand, is mine;
+    Its rocky shores before thy blows quail not.
+    Thou, too, O! sea, are part of my domain,
+    And, like the land, must bow to my command.
+    I'll sit me here! rise not, nor dare to touch,
+    With thy wet lips, the ermine of my robe!
+
+"And," cried he, for the moment overcome by his enthusiasm, "how would
+this sound sung in unison by five hundred well-trained voices?
+
+    For God alone is mighty,
+    The Lord of the sea,
+    The Lord of the land!
+    For He holds the waves of the ocean
+    In the hollow of His hand,
+    And the strength of the mightiest king
+    Is no more than a grain of sand.
+    For God alone is mighty,
+    The Lord of the sea,
+    The Lord of the land!"
+
+As Quincy resumed his seat, Alice clapped her hands to show her
+approbation of his oratorical effort. Then they both sat in silence for
+a few minutes, each evidently absorbed in thought.
+
+Suddenly Alice spoke:
+
+"And now, Mr. Sawyer, will you let me ask you a serious question? If I
+continue writing pieces like these, can I hope to earn enough from it to
+support myself?"
+
+Quincy thought for a moment, and then said, "I am afraid not. If you
+would allow me to take them to Boston the next time I go I will try and
+find out their market value, but editors usually say that poetry is a
+drug, and they have ten times as much offered them as they can find room
+for. On the other hand, stories, especially short ones, are eagerly
+sought and good prices paid for them. Did you ever think of writing a
+story, Miss Pettengill?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" said Alice, "I have several blocked out, I call it, in my own
+mind, but it is such a task for me to write that I dare not undertake
+them. If I could afford to pay an amanuensis it would be different."
+
+Quincy comprehended the situation in a moment. "I like to write, Miss
+Pettengill," said he, "and time hangs heavily upon my hands. We are
+likely to have a long spell of winter weather, during which I shall be
+confined to the house as well as yourself. Take pity on me and give my
+idle hands something to do."
+
+"Oh, it would be too much to ask," said Alice.
+
+"But you have not asked," answered Quincy. "I have offered you my
+services without your asking."
+
+"But when could we begin?" asked Alice, hesitatingly.
+
+"At once," replied Quincy. "I brought with me from Boston a half ream of
+legal paper and a dozen good pencils. I can write faster and much better
+with a pencil than I can with a pen, and as all legal papers have to be
+copied, I have got into the habit of using pencils for everything."
+
+It took Quincy but a few minutes to go to his room and secure his paper
+and pencils. He drew a table close to Alice's chair and sat down beside
+her.
+
+"What is the name of the story?" asked he.
+
+Alice replied, "I have called it in my mind, 'How He Lost Both Name and
+Fortune.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A VISIT TO MRS. PUTNAM.
+
+
+It must not be supposed that Alice's story was written out by Quincy in
+one or even two days. The oldest inhabitants will tell you that the
+great snowstorm lasted three days and three nights, and it was not till
+the fourth day thereafter that the roads were broken out, so that safe
+travel between Eastborough Centre and Mason's Corner became possible.
+
+The day after the storm the sad intelligence came to Quincy and Alice
+that old Mr. Putnam had passed quietly away on the last day of the
+storm. Quincy attended the funeral, and he could not help acknowledging
+to himself that Lindy Putnam never looked more beautiful than in her
+dress of plain black. The only ornament upon her was a pair of beautiful
+diamond earrings, but she always wore them, and consequently they were
+not obtrusive.
+
+Quincy bore an urgent request from Mrs. Putnam that Alice should come to
+see her. As the story was finished and copied on the seventh day after
+the storm, Quincy had the old-fashioned sleigh brought out and lined
+with robes. Taking the horse Old Bill, that sleigh bells or snow slides
+could not startle from his equanimity, Alice was driven to Mrs.
+Putnam's, and in a few minutes was clasped to Mrs. Putnam's bosom, the
+old lady crying and laughing by turns.
+
+Quincy thought it best, to leave them alone, and descending the stairs
+he entered the parlor, the door being halfway open. He started back as
+he saw a form dressed in black, seated by the window.
+
+"Come in, Mr. Sawyer," said Lindy. "I knew you were here. I saw you
+when you drove up with Miss Pettengill. What a beautiful girl she is,
+and what a pity that she is blind. I hope with all my heart that she
+will recover her sight."
+
+"She would be pleased to hear you say that," remarked Quincy.
+
+"We were never intimate," said Lindy. "You can tell her from me, you are
+quite the gallant chevalier, Mr. Sawyer, and what you say to her will
+sound sweeter than if it came from other lips. Are you going to marry
+her, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I do not think that our acquaintance is of such long standing that you
+are warranted in asking me so personal a question," replied Quincy.
+
+"Perhaps not," said Lindy, "but as I happened to know, though not from
+your telling, that she is to be my mother's heiress, I had a little
+curiosity to learn whether you had already proposed or were going--"
+
+"Miss Putnam," said Quincy sternly, "do not complete your sentence. Do
+not make me think worse of you than I already do. I beg your pardon for
+intruding upon you. I certainly should not have done so had I
+anticipated such an interview."
+
+Lindy burst into a flood of tears. Her grief seemed uncontrollable.
+Quincy closed the parlor door, thinking that if her cries and sobs were
+heard upstairs it would require a double explanation, which it might be
+hard for him to give.
+
+He stood and looked at the weeping girl. She had evidently known all
+along who her mother's heiress was. She had been fooling him, but for
+what reason? Was she in love with him? No, he did not think so; if she
+had been she would have confided in him rather than have sought to force
+him to confide in her. What could be the motive for her action? Quincy
+was nonplussed. He had had considerable experience with society girls,
+but they either relied upon languid grace or light repartee. They never
+used tears either for offence or defence.
+
+A surprise was in store for Quincy. Lindy rose from her chair and came
+towards him, her eyes red with weeping.
+
+"Why do you hate me so, Mr. Sawyer?" she asked. "Why will you not be a
+friend to me, when I need one so much? What first turned you against
+me?"
+
+Quincy replied, "I will tell you, Miss Putnam. They told me you were
+ashamed of your father and mother because they were old-fashioned
+country people and did not dress as well or talk as good English as you
+did."
+
+"Who told you so?" asked Lindy.
+
+"It was common talk in the village," he replied.
+
+"I should think you had suffered enough from village gossip, Mr. Sawyer,
+not to believe that all that is said is true."
+
+Quincy winced and colored. It was a keen thrust and went home.
+
+"Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire," he answered,
+rather lamely, as he thought, even to himself.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer, when I asked you to tell me a little secret you had in your
+possession, you refused. I wanted a friend, but I also wanted a proven
+friend. No doubt I took the wrong way to win your friendship, but I am
+going to tell you something, Mr. Sawyer, if you will listen to me, that
+will at least secure your pity for one who is rich in wealth but poor in
+that she has no friends to whom she can confide her troubles."
+
+Quincy saw that he was in for it, and like a gentleman, determined to
+make the best of it, so he said, "Miss Putnam, I will listen to your
+story, and if, after hearing it, I can honorably aid you I will do so
+with pleasure."
+
+Lindy took his hand, which he had half extended, and said, "Come, sit
+down, Mr. Sawyer. It is a long story, and I am nervous and tired," and
+she looked down at her black dress.
+
+They sat upon the sofa, he at one end, she at the other.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer," she began abruptly, "I am not a natural-born child of Mr.
+and Mrs. Putnam. I was adopted by them when but two years of age. I do
+not know who my father and mother were. I am sure Mrs. Putnam knows, but
+she will not tell me."
+
+[Illustration: "MRS. PUTNAM'S ANGER, UPON DISCOVERY OF LINDY'S
+PARENTAGE." (ACT III.)]
+
+"It could do no harm now that you are a woman grown," said Quincy.
+
+"At first they both loved me," Lindy continued, "but a year after I came
+here to live their son was born, and from that time on all was changed.
+Mr. Putnam was never unkind to me but once, but Mrs. Putnam seemed to
+take delight in blaming me, and tormenting me, and nagging me, until it
+is a wonder that my disposition is as good as it is, and you know it is
+not very good," said she to Quincy with a little smile. She resumed her
+story: "I loved the little boy, Jones I always called him, and as we
+grew up together he learned to love me and took my part, although he was
+three years younger than myself. This fact made Mrs. Putnam hate me more
+than ever. He stayed at home until he was twenty-two, then he went to
+his father and mother and told them that he loved me and wished to marry
+me. Both Mr. and Mrs. Putnam flew into a great rage at this. The idea of
+a brother marrying his sister! They said it was a crime and a sacrilege,
+and the vengeance of God would surely fall upon us both. Jones told them
+he had written to a lawyer in Boston, and he had replied that there was
+no law prohibiting such a marriage. 'But the law of God shines before
+you like a flaming sword,' said Mrs. Putnam; and Mr. Putnam agreed with
+her, for she had all his property in her possession." Quincy smiled.
+"They packed Jones off to the city at once," said Lindy, "and his
+mother gave him five thousand dollars to go into business with. Jones
+began speculating, and he was successful from first to last. In three
+months he paid back the five thousand dollars his mother had given him,
+and he never took a dollar from them after that day. At twenty-six he
+was worth one hundred thousand dollars. When I went to Boston I always
+saw him, and he at last told me he could stand it no longer. Be wanted
+me to marry him and go to Europe with him. I told him I must have a week
+to think it over. If I decided to go I would be in Boston on a certain
+day. I would bring my trunk and would stop at a certain hotel and send
+word for him to come to me. I used all possible secrecy in getting my
+clothes ready, and packed them away, as I thought, unnoticed, in my
+trunk, which was in the attic. Mrs. Putnam must have suspected that I
+intended to leave home, and she knew that I would not go unless to meet
+her son. The day before I planned going to Boston, or rather the night
+before, she entered my room while I was asleep, took every particle of
+my clothing, with the exception of one house dress and a pair of
+slippers, and locked me in. They kept me there for a week, and I wished
+that I had died there, for when they came to me it was to tell me that
+Jones was dead, and I was the cause of it. I who loved him so!" And the
+girl's eyes filled with tears.
+
+"What was the cause of his death?" asked Quincy.
+
+"He was young, healthy, and careless," answered Lindy. "He took a bad
+cold and it developed into lung fever. Even then he claimed it was
+nothing and would not see a doctor. One morning he did not come to the
+office, his clerk went to his room, but when the doctor was called it
+was too late. It was very sad that he should die so, believing that I
+had refused to go with him, when I would have given my life for him. He
+loved me till death. He left me all his money, but in his will he
+expressed the wish that I would never accept a dollar from his parents.
+So now you see why Mrs. Putnam does not make me her heiress. You think I
+hate Miss Pettengill because she is going to give it to her, but truly I
+do not, Mr. Sawyer. What I said when you came in I really meant, and I
+hope you will be happy, Mr. Sawyer, even as I hoped to be years ago."
+
+Quincy had been greatly interested in Lindy's story, and that feeling of
+sympathy for the unhappy and suffering that always shows itself in a
+true gentleman rose strongly in his breast.
+
+"Miss Putnam," said he, "I have wronged you both in thought and action,
+but I never suspected what you have told me. Will you forgive me and
+allow me to be your friend? I will try to atone in the future for my
+misdoings in the past."
+
+He extended his hand, and Lindy laid hers in his.
+
+"I care not for the past," said she. "I will forget that. I have also to
+ask for forgiveness. I, too, have said and done many things which I
+would not have said or done, but for womanly spite and vanity. You see
+my excuse is not so good as yours," said she, as she smiled through her
+tears.
+
+"In what way can I serve you?" asked Quincy. "Why do you not go to
+Boston and live? I could introduce you to many pleasant families."
+
+"What!" cried Lindy. "Me, a waif and a stray! You are too kind-hearted,
+Mr. Sawyer. I shall not leave the woman every one but you thinks to be
+my mother. When she is dead I shall leave Eastborough never to return.
+My sole object in life from that day will be to find some trace of my
+parents or relatives. Now it may happen that through Mrs. Putnam or Miss
+Pettengill you may get some clew that will help me in my search. It is
+for this that I wish a friend, and I have a presentiment that some day
+you will be able to help me."
+
+Quincy assured her that if it lay in his power any time to be of
+assistance to her, she could count upon him.
+
+"By the way, Miss Putnam," said he, "how did your investment with Foss &
+Follansbee turn out? I heard a rumor that the stock fell, and you lost
+considerable money."
+
+Lindy flushed painfully. "It did drop, Mr. Sawyer, but it rallied again,
+as you call it, and when they sold out for me I made nearly five
+thousand dollars; but," and she looked pleadingly up into Quincy's face,
+"you have forgiven me for that as well as for my other wrong doings."
+
+"For everything up to date," said Quincy, laughing.
+
+At that instant a loud pounding was heard on the floor above.
+
+"Mrs. Putnam is knocking for you," said Lindy. "Miss Pettengill must be
+ready to go home. Good-by, Mr. Sawyer, and do not forget your unhappy
+friend."
+
+"I promise to remember her and her quest," said Quincy.
+
+He gave the little hand extended to him, a slight pressure and ran up
+the stairs. As he did so he heard the parlor door close behind him.
+
+As they were driving home, Alice several times took what appeared to be
+a letter from her muff and held it up as though trying to read it.
+Quincy glanced towards her.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer, can you keep a secret?" asked Alice.
+
+"I have a big one on my mind now," replied Quincy, "that I would like to
+confide to some one."
+
+"Why don't you?" asked Alice.
+
+"As soon as I can find a person whom I think can fully sympathize with
+me I shall do so, but for the present I must bear my burden in silence,"
+said he.
+
+"I hope you Will not have to wait long before finding that sympathetic
+friend," remarked Alice.
+
+"I hope so, too," he replied. "But I have not answered your question,
+Miss Pettengill. If I can serve you by storing a secret with you, it
+shall be safe with me."
+
+"Will you promise not to speak of it, not even to me?" she asked.
+
+"If you wish it I will promise," he answered.
+
+"Then please read to me what is written on that envelope."
+
+Quincy looked at the envelope. "It is written in an old-fashioned,
+cramped hand," he said, "and the writing is 'confided to Miss Alice
+Pettengill, and to be destroyed without being read by her within
+twenty-four hours after my death. Hepsibeth Putnam.'"
+
+[Illustration: "QUINCY READING ALICE'S LETTER TO HER." (ACT III.)]
+
+"Thank you," said Alice simply, and she replaced the envelope in her
+muff.
+
+Like a flash of lightning the thought came to Quincy that the letter to
+be destroyed had some connection with the strange story so recently told
+him by Lindy. He must take some action in the matter before it was too
+late. Turning to Alice he said, "Miss Pettengill, if I make a strange
+request of you, which you can easily grant, will you do it, and not ask
+me for any explanation until after you have complied?"
+
+"You have worded your inquiry so carefully, Mr. Sawyer, that I am a
+little afraid you, you being a lawyer, but as you have so graciously
+consented to keep a secret with me, I will trust you and will promise to
+comply with your request."
+
+"All I ask is," said Quincy, "that before you destroy that letter, you
+will let me read to you once more what is written upon the envelope."
+
+"Why, certainly," said Alice, "how could I refuse so harmless a request
+as that?"
+
+"I am greatly obliged for your kindness," said Quincy to her; but he
+thought to himself, "I will find out what is in that envelope, if there
+is any honorable way of doing so."
+
+Hiram came over to see Mandy that evening, and Mrs. Crowley, who was in
+the best of spirits, sang several old-time Irish songs to them, Hiram
+and Mandy joining in the choruses. They were roasting big red apples on
+the top of the stove and chestnuts in the oven. Quincy, attracted by the
+singing, came downstairs to the kitchen, and was invited to join in the
+simple feast. He then asked Mrs. Crowley to sing for him, which she did,
+and he repaid her by singing, "The Harp That Once Thro' Tara's Halls" so
+sweetly that tears coursed down the old woman's cheeks, and she said,
+"My poor boy Tom, that was killed in the charge at Balaklava, used to
+sing just like that."
+
+Then the poor woman began weeping so violently that Mandy coaxed her off
+to bed and left the room with her.
+
+When Hiram and Quincy were alone together, the latter said: "Any news,
+Hiram?"
+
+"Not much," replied Hiram. "The snow is too deep, and it's too darned
+cold for the boys to travel 'round and do much gossipin' this weather. A
+notice is pasted up on Hill's grocery that it'll be sold by auction next
+Tuesday at three o'clock in the afternoon. And I got on to one bit of
+news. Strout and his friends are goin' to give Huldy Mason a surprise
+party. They have invited me and Mandy simply because they want you to
+hear all about it. But they don't propose to invite you, nor 'Zeke, nor
+his sister."
+
+"Has Strout got anybody to back him up on buying the grocery store?"
+asked Quincy.
+
+"Yes," said Hiram, "he has got two thousand dollars pledged, and I hear
+he wants five hundred dollars more. He don't think the whole thing will
+run over twenty-five hundred dollars."
+
+"How much is to be paid in cash?" Quincy inquired.
+
+"Five hundred dollars," said Hiram; "and that's what troubles Strout.
+His friends will endorse his notes and take a mortgage on the store, for
+they know it's a good payin' business. They expect to get their money
+back with good interest, but it comes kinder hard on them to plunk down
+five hundred dollars in cold cash."
+
+At that moment Mandy returned, and after asking her for a spoon and a
+plate upon which to take a roast apple and some chestnuts upstairs,
+Quincy left the young couple together. As he sat before the fire
+enjoying his lunch, he resolved that he would buy that grocery store,
+cost what it might, and that 'Zeke Pettengill, Alice, and himself would
+go to that surprise party.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+THE NEW DOCTOR.
+
+
+Quincy improved the first opportunity offered for safe travelling to
+make a visit to the city. He had several matters to attend to. First, he
+had not sent his letter to his friend, requesting him to make inquiries
+as to Obadiah Strout's war record, for the great snowstorm had come the
+day after he had written it. Second, he was going to take Alice's story
+to show to a literary friend, and see if he could secure its
+publication. And this was not all; Alice had told him, after he had
+finished copying the story she had dictated to him, that she had written
+several other short stories during the past two years.
+
+In response to his urgent request, she allowed him to read her treasured
+manuscripts. The first was a passionate love story in which a young
+Spanish officer, stationed on the island of Cuba, and a beautiful young
+Cuban girl were the principals. It was entitled "Her Native Land," and
+was replete with startling situations and effective tableaus. Quincy was
+delighted with it, and told Alice if dramatized it would make a fine
+acting play. This was, of course, very pleasing to the young author.
+Quincy was her amanuensis, her audience, and her critic, and she knew
+that in his eyes she was already a success.
+
+She also gave him to read a series of eight stories, in a line usually
+esteemed quite foreign to feminine instincts. Alice had conceived the
+idea of a young man, physically weak and suffering from nervous
+debility, being left an immense fortune at the age of twenty-one. His
+money was well invested, and in company with a faithful attendant he
+travelled for fifteen years, covering every nook and corner of the
+habitable globe. At thirty-six he returned home much improved in health,
+but still having a marked aversion to engaging in any business pursuit.
+A mysterious case and its solution having been related to him, he
+resolved to devote his income, now amounting to a million dollars
+yearly, to amateur detective work. His great-desire was to ferret out
+and solve mysteries, murders, suicides, robberies, and disappearances
+that baffled the police and eluded their vigilant inquiry.
+
+The titles that Alice had chosen for her stories were as mysterious, in
+their way, as the stories themselves. Arranged in the order of their
+writing, they were: Was it Signed? The Man Without a Tongue; He Thought
+He Was Dead; The Eight of Spades; The Exit of Mrs. Delmonnay; How I
+Caught the Fire-Bugs; The Hot Hand; and The Mystery of Unreachable
+Island.
+
+When Quincy reached the city, his first visit was to his father's
+office, but he found him absent. He was told that he was conducting a
+case in the Equity Session of the Supreme Court, and would not return to
+the office that day.
+
+Instead of leaving his letter at his friend's office, he went directly
+to the Adjutant-General's office at the State House. Here he found that
+an acquaintance of his was employed as a clerk. He was of foreign birth,
+but had served gallantly through the war and had left an arm upon the
+battlefield. He made his request for a copy of the war record of Obadiah
+Strout, of the --th Mass. Volunteers. Then a thought came suddenly to
+him and he requested one also of the record of Hiram Maxwell of the same
+regiment.
+
+Leaving the State House on the Hancock Avenue side, he walked down that
+narrow but convenient thoroughfare, and was standing at its entrance to
+the sidewalk on Beacon Street, debating which publisher he would call on
+first, when a cheery voice said, "Hello, Sawyer." When he looked up he
+saw an old Latin School and college chum, named Leopold Ernst. Ernst was
+a Jew, but he had been one of the smartest and most popular of the boys
+in school and of the men at Harvard.
+
+"What are you up to?" asked Ernst.
+
+"Living on my small fortune and my father's bounty," said Quincy. "Not a
+very creditable record, I know, but my health has not been very good,
+and I have been resting for a couple of months in the country."
+
+"Not much going on in the country at this time of the year I fancy,"
+remarked Ernst.
+
+"That's where you are wrong," said Quincy. "There has been the devil to
+pay ever since I landed in the town, and I've got mixed up in so many
+complications that I don't expect to get back to town before next
+Christmas. But what are you doing, Ernst?"
+
+"Oh, I am in for literature; not the kind that consists in going round
+with a notebook and prying into people's business, with a hope one day
+of becoming an editor, and working twenty hours out of the twenty-four
+each day. Not a bit of it, I am reader for ----;" and he mentioned the
+name of a large publishing house. "I have my own hours and a comfortable
+salary. I sit like Solomon upon the efforts of callow authors and the
+productions of ripened genius. Sometimes I discover a diamond in the
+rough, and introduce a new star to the literary firmament; and at other
+times I cut up some egotistical old writer, who thinks anything he turns
+out will be sure to please the public."
+
+"How fortunate that I have met you?" said Quincy. "I have in this little
+carpet bag the first effusions of one of those callow authors of whom
+you spoke. She is poor, beautiful, and blind."
+
+"Don't try to trade on my sympathies, old boy," said Ernst. "No person
+who is poor has any right to become an author. It takes too long in
+these days to make a hit, and the poor author is bound to die before
+the hit comes. The 'beautiful' gag don't work with me at all. The best
+authors are homelier than sin and it's a pity that their pictures are
+ever published. As regards the 'blind' part, that may be an advantage,
+for dictating relieves one of the drudgery of writing one's self, and
+gives one a chance for a fuller play of one's fancies than if tied to a
+piece of wood, a scratchy pen, and a bottle of thick ink."
+
+"Then you won't look at them," said Quincy.
+
+"I didn't say so," replied Ernst. "Of course, I can't look at them in a
+business way, unless they are duly submitted to my house, but I have
+been reading a very badly written, but mightily interesting manuscript,
+for the past two days and a half, and I want a change of work or
+diversion, to brush up my wits. Now, old fellow," said he, taking Quincy
+by the arm, "if you will come up to the club with me, and have a good
+dinner with some Chianti, and a glass or two of champagne, and a pousse
+cafe to finish up with, then we will go up to my rooms on Chestnut
+Street--I have a whole top floor to myself--we will light up our cigars,
+and you may read to me till to-morrow morning and I won't murmur. But,
+mind you, if the stories are mighty poor I may go to sleep, and if I do
+that, you might as well go to bed too, for when I once go to sleep I
+never wake up till I get good and ready."
+
+Quincy had intended after seeing a publisher to leave the manuscripts
+for examination, then to take tea with his mother and sisters, and go
+back to Eastborough on the five minutes past six express. But he was
+prone to yield to fate, which is simply circumstances, and he accepted
+his old college chum's invitation with alacrity. He could get the
+opinion of an expert speedily, and that fact carried the day with him.
+
+When they were comfortably ensconced in their easy-chairs on the top
+floor, and the cigars lighted, Quincy commenced reading. Leopold had
+previously shown him his suite, which consisted of a parlor, or rather a
+sitting-room, a library, which included principally the works of
+standard authors and reference books, his sleeping apartment, and a
+bathroom.
+
+There was a large bed lounge in the sitting-room, and Quincy determined
+to read every story in his carpet bag, if it took him all night. He
+commenced with the series of detective or mystery stories. He had read
+them over before and was able to bring out their strong points
+oratorically, for, as it has been said before, he was a fine speaker.
+
+Quincy eyed Ernst over the corner of the manuscript he was reading, but
+the latter understood his business. Occasionally he was betrayed into a
+nod of approval and several times shook his head in a negative way, but
+he uttered no word of commendation or disapproval.
+
+After several of the stories had been read, Ernst called a halt, and
+going to a cupboard brought out some crackers, cake, and a decanter of
+wine, with glasses, which he put upon a table, and placed within
+comfortable reach of both reader and listener. Then he said, "Go ahead,"
+munched a cracker, sipped his wine, and then lighted a fresh cigar.
+
+When the series was finished, Leopold said, "Now we will have some tea.
+I do a good deal of my reading at home, and I don't like to go out again
+after I have crawled up four flights of stairs, so my landlady sends me
+up a light supper at just about this hour. There is the maid now," as a
+light knock was heard on the door.
+
+Leopold opened it, and the domestic brought in a tray with a pot of tea
+and the ingredients of a light repast, which she placed upon another
+table near a window.
+
+"There is always enough for two," said Leopold. "Reading is mighty
+tiresome work, and listening is too, and a cup of good strong tea will
+brighten us both up immensely. You can come back for the tray in
+fifteen minutes, Jennie," said Ernest.
+
+The supper was finished, the tray removed, and the critic sat in
+judgment once more upon the words that fell from the reader's lips.
+Leopold's face lighted up during the reading of "Her Native Land." He
+started to speak, and the word "That's--" escaped him, but he recovered
+himself and said no more, though he listened intently.
+
+Quincy took a glass of wine and a cracker before starting upon the story
+which had been dictated to him. Leopold gave no sign of falling asleep,
+but patted his hands lightly together at certain points in the story,
+whether contemplatively or approvingly Quincy could not determine. As he
+read the closing lines of the last manuscript the cuckoo clock struck
+twelve, midnight.
+
+"You are a mighty good reader, Quincy," said Leopold, "and barring
+fifteen minutes for refreshments, you have been at it ten hours. Now you
+want my opinion of those stories, and what's more, you want my advice as
+to the best place to put them to secure their approval and early
+publication. Now I am going to smoke a cigar quietly and think the whole
+thing over, and at half past twelve I will give you my opinion in
+writing. I am going into my library for half an hour to write down what
+I have to say. You take a nap on the lounge there, and you will be
+refreshed when I come back after having made mince meat of your poor,
+beautiful, blind _protege_."
+
+Leopold disappeared into the library, and Quincy stretching himself on
+the lounge, rested, but did not sleep. Before he had realized that ten
+minutes had passed, Leopold stood beside him with a letter sheet in his
+hand, and said, "Now, Quincy, read this to me, and I will see if I have
+got it down straight."
+
+Quincy's hand trembled nervously as he seated himself in his old
+position and turning the sheet so that the light would fall upon it, he
+read the following:
+
+Opinion of Leopold Ernst, Literary Critic, of certain manuscripts
+submitted for examination by Quincy A. Sawyer, with some advice gratis.
+
+1. Series of eight stories. Mighty clever general idea; good stories
+well written. Same style maintained throughout; good plots. Our house
+could not handle them--not of our line. Send to ----. (Here followed the
+name of a New York publisher.) I will write Cooper, one of their
+readers. He is a friend of mine, and will secure quick decision, which,
+I prophesy, will be favorable.
+
+2. "Her Native Land" is a fine story. I can get it into a weekly
+literary paper that our house publishes. I know Jameson, the reader,
+will take it, especially if you would give him the right to dramatize
+it. He is hand and glove with all the theatre managers and has had
+several successes.
+
+3. That story about the Duke, I want for our magazine. It is capital,
+and has enough meat in it to make a full-blown novel. All it wants is
+oysters, soup, fish, entrees, and a dessert prefixed to and joined on to
+the solid roast and game which the story as now written itself supplies.
+
+In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 24th day of
+February, 186--.
+
+LEOPOLD ERNST, Literary Critic.
+
+Quincy remained all night with Leopold, sleeping on the bed lounge in
+the sitting-room. He was up at six o'clock the next morning, but found
+that his friend was also an early riser, for on entering the library he
+saw the latter seated at his desk regarding the pile of manuscript which
+Quincy had read to him.
+
+Leopold looked up with a peculiar expression on his face.
+
+"What's the matter," asked Quincy, "changing your mind?"
+
+"No," said Leopold, "I never do that, it would spoil my value as a
+reader if I did. My decisions are as fixed as the laws of the Medes and
+Persians, and are regarded by literary aspirants as being quite as
+severe as the statutes of Draco; but the fact is, Quincy, you and your
+_protege_--you see I consider you equally culpable--have neglected to
+put any real name or pseudonym to these interesting stories. Of course I
+can affix the name of the most popular author that the world has ever
+known,--Mr. Anonymous,--but you two probably have some pet name that you
+wish immortalized."
+
+"By George!" cried Quincy, "we did forget that. I will talk it over with
+her, and send you the _nom de plume_ by mail.
+
+"Very well," said Leopold, rising. "And now let us go and have some
+breakfast."
+
+"My dear fellow, you must excuse me. I have not seen my parents this
+trip, and I ought to go up to the house and take breakfast with the
+family."
+
+"All right," said Leopold, "rush that pseudonym right along, so I can
+send the manuscripts to Cooper. And don't forget to drop in and see me
+next time you come to the city."
+
+On his way to Beacon Street Quincy suddenly stopped and regarded a sign
+that read, Paul Culver, M.D., physician and surgeon. He knew Culver, but
+hadn't seen him for eight years. They were in the Latin School together
+under _pater_ Gardner. He rang the bell and was shown into Dr. Culver's
+office, and in a few minutes his old schoolmate entered. Paul Culver was
+a tall, broad-chested, heavily-built young man, with frank blue eyes,
+and hair of the color that is sometimes irreverently called, or rather
+the wearers of it are called, towheads.
+
+They had a pleasant talk over old school days and college experiences,
+which were not identical, for Paul had graduated from Yale College at
+his father's desire, instead of from Harvard. Then Quincy broached what
+was upper-most in his mind and which had been the real reason for his
+call. He stated briefly the facts concerning Alice's case, and asked
+Paul's advice.
+
+Dr. Culver salt for a few moments apparently in deep study.
+
+"My advice," said he, "is to see Tillotson. He has an office in the
+Hotel Pelham, up by the Public Library, you know."
+
+"Is he a 'regular'?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Well," said Culver, "I don't think he is. For a fact I know he is not
+an M.D., but I fancy that the diploma that be holds from the Almighty is
+worth more to suffering humanity than a good many issued by the
+colleges."
+
+"You are a pretty broad-minded allopath," said Quincy, "to give such a
+sweeping recommendation to a quack."
+
+"I didn't say he was a quack," replied Culver. "He is a natural-born
+healer, and he uses only nature's remedies in his practice. Go and see
+him, Quincy, and judge for yourself."
+
+"But," said Quincy, "I had hoped that you--"
+
+"But I couldn't," broke in Paul. "I am an emergency doctor. If baby has
+the croup, or Jimmy has the measles, or father has the lung fever, they
+call me in, and I get them well as soon as possible. But if
+mother-in-law has some obscure complaint I am too busy to give the time
+to study it up, and they wouldn't pay me for it if I did. Medicine, like
+a great many other things, is going into the hands of the specialists
+eventually, and Tillotson is one of the first of the new school."
+
+At that moment a maid announced that some one wished to see Dr. Culver,
+and Quincy took a hurried leave.
+
+He found his father, mother, and sisters at home, and breakfast was
+quickly served after his arrival. They all said he was looking much
+better, and all asked him when he was coming home. He gave an evasive
+answer, saying that there were lots of good times coming down in
+Eastborough and he didn't wish to miss them. He told his father he was
+improving his time reading and writing, and would give a good account of
+himself when he did return.
+
+He had to wait an hour before he could secure an interview with Dr.
+Tillotson. The latter had a spare day in each week, that day being
+Thursday, which he devoted to cases that he was obliged to visit
+personally. Quincy arranged with him to visit Eastborough on the
+following Thursday, and by calling a carriage managed to catch the
+half-past eleven train for that town, and reached his boarding place a
+little before two o'clock. He had arranged with the driver to wait for a
+letter that he wished to have mailed to Boston that same afternoon.
+
+He went in by the back door, and as he passed through the kitchen, Mandy
+made a sign, and he went to her.
+
+"Hiram waited till one o'clock," said she, "but he had to go home, and
+he wanted me to tell you that the surprise party is coming off next
+Monday night, and they are going to get there at seven o'clock, so as to
+have plenty of time for lots of fun, and Hiram suspects," and her voice
+fell to a whisper, "that Strout is going to try and work the Deacon for
+that five hundred in cash to put up for the grocery store next Tuesday.
+That's all," said she.
+
+"Where is Miss Pettengill?" Quincy inquired.
+
+"She's in the parlor," said Mandy. "She has been playing the piano and
+singing beautifully, but I guess she has got tired."
+
+Quincy went directly to the parlor and found Alice seated before the
+open fire, her right hand covering her eyes.
+
+She, looked up as Quincy entered the room and said, "I am so glad you've
+got back, Mr. Sawyer. I have been very lonesome since you have been
+away."
+
+Alice did not see the happy smile that spread over Quincy's face, and he
+covered up his pleasure by saying, "How did you know it was I?"
+
+"Oh," said Alice, "my hearing is very acute. I know the step of every
+person in the house. Swiss has been with me all the morning, but he
+asked a few minutes ago to be excused, so he could get his dinner."
+
+Quincy laughed, and then, said, "Miss Pettengill, we forgot a very
+important matter in connection with your stories; we omitted to put on
+the name of the author." He told her of his meeting with Ernst, and what
+had taken place, and Alice was delighted. Quincy did not refer to the
+coming visit of Dr. Tillotson, for he did not mean to speak of it until
+the day appointed arrived. "Now, Miss Pettengill, I have some letters to
+write to send back by the hotel carriage, so that they can be mailed
+this afternoon. While I am doing this you can decide upon your
+pseudonym, and I will put it in the letter that I am going to write to
+Ernst."
+
+Quincy went up to his room and sat down at his writing table. The first
+letter was to his bankers, and enclosed a check for five hundred
+dollars, with a request to send the amount in bills by Adams Express to
+Eastborough Centre, to reach there not later than noon of the next
+Tuesday, and to be held until called for. The second letter was to a
+prominent confectioner and caterer in Boston, ordering enough ice cream,
+sherbet, frozen pudding, and assorted cake for a party of fifty persons,
+and fifty grab-bag presents; all to reach Eastborough Centre in good
+order on Monday night on the five minutes past six express from Boston.
+The third letter was to Ernst. It was short and to the point. "The
+pseudonym is--." And he left a blank space for the name. Then he signed
+his own. He glanced over his writing table and saw the three poems that
+Alice had given him to read. He added a postscript to his letter to
+Ernst. It read as follows:
+
+"I enclose three poems written by the same person who
+wrote the stories. Tell me what you think of them, and if
+you can place them anywhere do so, and this shall be your
+warrant therefor.                           Q.A.S."
+
+When his mail was in readiness he went downstairs to the parlor, taking
+a pen and bottle of ink with him, and saying to himself, "That pseudonym
+shall not be written in pencil."
+
+"I am in a state of hopeless indecision," remarked Alice. "I can think
+of Christian names that please me, and surnames that please me, but when
+I put them together they don't please me at all."
+
+"Then we will leave it to fate," said Quincy. He tore a sheet of paper
+into six pieces and passed three, with a book and pencil, to Alice. "Now
+you write," said he, "three Christian names that please you, and I will
+write three surnames that please me; then we will put the pieces in my
+hat, and you will select two and what you select shall be the name."
+
+"That's a capital idea," said Alice, "it is harder to select a name than
+it was to write the story."
+
+The slips were written, placed in the hat, shaken up, and Alice selected
+two, which she held up for Quincy to read.
+
+"This is not fair," said Quincy. "I never thought. Both of the slips are
+mine. We must try again."
+
+"No," said Alice, "it is 'Kismet.' What are the names?" she asked.
+
+"Bruce Douglas, or Douglas Bruce, as you prefer," said Quincy.
+
+"I like Bruce Douglas best," replied Alice.
+
+"I am so glad," said Quincy, "that's the name I should have selected
+myself."
+
+"Then I will bear your name in future," said Alice, and Quincy thought
+to himself that he wished she had said those words in response to a
+question that was in his mind, but which he had decided it was not yet
+time to ask her. He was too much of a gentleman to refer in a joking
+manner to the words which Alice had spoken and which had been uttered
+with no thought or idea that they bore a double meaning.
+
+Quincy wrote the selected name in the blank space in Leopold's letter,
+sealed it and took his mail out to the carriage driver, who was seated
+in the kitchen enjoying a piece of mince pie and a mug of cider which
+Mandy had given him.
+
+As Quincy entered the kitchen he heard Mandy say, "How is 'Bias
+nowadays?"
+
+"Oh, dad's all right," said the young man; "he is going to run Wallace
+Stackpole again for tax collector against Obadiah Strout."
+
+"Is your name Smith?" asked Quincy, advancing with the letters in his
+hand.
+
+"Yes," replied the young man, "my name is Abbott Smith. My dad's name is
+'Bias; he is pretty well known 'round these parts."
+
+"I have heard of him," said Quincy, "and I wish to see him and Mr.
+Stackpole together. Can you come over for me next Wednesday morning and
+bring Mr. Stackpole with you? I can talk to him going back, and I want
+you to drive us over to your father's place. Don't say anything about it
+except to Mr. Stackpole and your father, but I am going to take a hand
+in town politics this year."
+
+The young man laughed and said, "I will be over here by eight o'clock
+next Wednesday."
+
+"I wish you would have these letters weighed at the post office, and if
+any more stamps are needed please put them on. Take what is left for
+your trouble," and Quincy passed Abbott a half dollar.
+
+He heard the retreating carriage wheels as he went upstairs to his room.
+He made an entry in his pocket diary, and then ran his eye over several
+others that preceded and followed it.
+
+"Let me see," soliloquized he, as he read aloud, "this is Friday;
+Saturday, expect war records from Adjutant-General; Monday, hear from
+Ernst, surprise party in the evening; Tuesday, get money at express
+office; Tuesday afternoon, buy Hill's grocery and give Strout his first
+knock-out; Wednesday, see Stackpole and Smith and arrange to knock
+Strout out again; Thursday, Dr. Tillotson." He laughed and closed the
+book. Then he said, "And the city fellows think it must be dull down
+here because there is nothing going on in a country town in the
+winter."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+SOME PLAIN FACTS AND INFERENCES.
+
+
+The next day was Saturday; the sun did not show itself from behind the
+clouds till noon, and Quincy put off his trip to the Eastborough Centre
+post office with the hope that the afternoon would be pleasant. His wish
+was gratified, and at dinner he said he was going to drive over to
+Eastborough Centre, and asked Miss Pettengill if she would not like to
+accompany him. Alice hesitated, but Uncle Ike advised her to go, telling
+her that she stayed indoors too much and needed outdoor exercise.
+Ezekiel agreed with his uncle, and Alice finally gave what seemed to
+Quincy to be a somewhat reluctant consent.
+
+He saw that the sleigh was amply supplied with robes, and Mandy, at his
+suggestion, heated a large piece of soap-stone, which was wrapped up and
+placed in the bottom of the sleigh.
+
+Alice appeared at the door equipped for her journey. Always lovely in
+Quincy's eyes, she appeared still more so in her suit of dark blue
+cloth. Over her shoulders she wore a fur cape lined with quilted red
+satin, and on her head a fur cap, which made a strong contract with her
+light hair which crept out in little curls from underneath.
+
+They started off at a smart speed, for Old Bill was not in the shafts
+this time. Alice had been familiar with the road to Eastborough before
+leaving home, and as Quincy described the various points they passed,
+Alice entered into the spirit of the drive with all the interest and
+enthusiasm of a child. The sharp winter air brought a rosy bloom to her
+cheeks, and as Quincy looked at those wonderful large blue eyes, he
+could hardly make himself believe that they could not see him. He was
+sure he had never seen a handsomer girl.
+
+As they passed Uncle Ike's little house, Quincy called her attention to
+it. Alice said:
+
+"Poor Uncle Ike, I wish I could do more for him, he has done so much for
+me. He paid for my lessons in bookkeeping and music, and also for my
+board until I had finished my studies and obtained a position. He has
+been a father to me since my own dear father died."
+
+Quincy felt some inclination to find out the real reason why Uncle Ike
+had left his family, but he repressed it and called attention to some
+trees, heavily coated with snow and ice, which looked beautiful in the
+sunshine, and he described them so graphically, bringing in allusions to
+pearls and diamonds and strings of glistening jewels, that Alice clapped
+her hands in delight and said she would take him as her literary
+partner, to write in the descriptive passages. Quincy for an instant
+felt impelled to take advantage of the situation, but saying to himself,
+"The time is not yet," he touched the horse with his whip and for half a
+minute was obliged to give it his undivided attention.
+
+"Did you think the horse was running away?" said he to Alice, when he
+had brought him down to a trot. "Were you afraid?"
+
+"I am afraid of nothing nowadays," she replied. "I trust my companions
+implicitly, knowing that they will tell me if I am in danger and advise
+me what to do. I had a debate a long time ago with Uncle Ike about blind
+people and deaf people. He said he would rather be stone deaf than
+blind. As he argued it, the deaf person could read and write and get
+along very comfortably by himself. I argued on the other side. I wish to
+hear the voices of my friends when they talk and sing and read, and
+then, you know, everybody lends a helping hand to a person who is blind,
+but the deaf person must look out for himself."
+
+"Either state is to be regretted, if there is no hope of relief,"
+remarked Quincy. He thought he would refer to Dr. Tillotson, but they
+were approaching the centre of the town, and he knew he would not have
+time to explain his action before he reached the post office, so he
+determined to postpone it until they were on the way home.
+
+There were three letters for himself, two for Alice and a lot of papers
+and magazines for Uncle Ike. He resumed his seat in the sleigh and they
+started on their journey homeward.
+
+"Would you like to go back the same way that we came?" asked Quincy, "or
+shall we go by the upper road and come by Deacon Mason's?"
+
+"I should like to stop and see Huldy," said Alice, and Quincy took the
+upper road.
+
+Conversation lagged on the homeward trip. Alice held her two letters in
+her hand and looked at them several times, apparently trying to
+recognize the handwriting. As Quincy glanced at her sidewise, he felt
+sure that he saw tears in her eyes, and he decided that it would be an
+inappropriate time to announce the subject of the new doctor. In fact,
+he was beginning to think, the more his mind dwelt upon the subject,
+that he had taken an inexcusable liberty in arranging for Dr. Tillotson
+to come down without first speaking to her, or at least to her brother
+or uncle. But the deed was done, and he must find some way to have her
+see the doctor, and get his opinion about her eyes.
+
+Quincy spent so much time revolving this matter in his mind, that he was
+quite astonished when he looked around and found himself at the exact
+place where he spoke those words to Huldy Mason that had ended in the
+accident. This time he gave careful attention to horse and hill and
+curve, and a moment later he drew up the sleigh at Deacon Mason's front
+gate.
+
+Mrs. Mason welcomed them at the door and they were shown into the
+parlor, where Huldy sat at the piano. The young girls greeted each other
+warmly, and Mrs. Mason and Huldy both wished Quincy and Alice to stay to
+tea. They declined, saying they had many letters to read before supper
+and 'Zekiel would think something had happened to them if they did not
+come home.
+
+"I will send Hiram down to let them know," said Mrs. Mason.
+
+"You must really excuse us this time," protested Quincy. "Some other
+time perhaps Miss Pettengill will accept your hospitality."
+
+"But when?" asked Mrs. Mason. "We might as well fix a time right now."
+
+"Yes," said Huldy, "and we won't let them go till they promise."
+
+"Well, my plan," said Mrs. Mason, "is this. Have 'Zekiel and Alice and
+Mr. Sawyer come over next Monday afternoon about five o'clock, and we
+will have tea at six, and we will have some music in the evening. I have
+so missed your singing, Mr. Sawyer, since you went away."
+
+"Yes," said Huldy, "I think it is real mean of you, Alice, not to let
+him come and see us oftener."
+
+Alice flushed and stammered, "I--I--I do not keep him from coming to see
+you. Why, yes, I have too," said she, as a thought flashed through her
+mind. "I will tell you the truth, Mrs. Mason. Mr. Sawyer offered to do
+some writing for me, and I have kept him very busy."
+
+She stopped and Quincy continued:
+
+"I did do a little writing for her, Mrs. Mason, during the great
+snowstorm, and it was as great a pleasure to me, as I hope it was a help
+to her, for I had nothing else to do."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Mason, "you can settle that matter between yer. All
+that Huldy and me wants to know is, will all three of you come and take
+tea with us next Monday night?"
+
+"I shall be greatly pleased to do so," said Quincy.
+
+"If 'Zekiel will come, I will," said Alice, and Quincy for an instant
+felt a slight touch of wounded feeling because Alice had ignored him
+entirely in accepting the invitation.
+
+As they drove home, Alice said: "Mrs. Mason managed that nicely, didn't
+she? I didn't wish to appear too eager to come, for Huldy might have
+suspected."
+
+"What mystery is this?" asked Quincy. "I really don't know what you are
+talking about."
+
+"What!" said Alice. "Didn't 'Zekiel tell you about the surprise party
+that Mr. Strout was getting up, and that you, 'Zekiel, and I were not to
+be invited?"
+
+"Oh! I see," said Quincy. "How stupid I have been! I knew all about it
+and that it was to be next Monday, but Mrs. Mason asked us so honestly
+to come to tea, and Huldy joined in so heartily, that for the time being
+I got things mixed, and besides, to speak frankly, Miss Pettengill, I
+was thinking of something else."
+
+"And what was it?" asked Alice.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, determined to break the ice, "I will tell you. I
+was wondering why you said you would come to tea if 'Zekiel would come."
+
+"Oh!" said Alice, laughing. "You thought I was very ungenerous to leave
+you out of the question entirely."
+
+"Honestly I did think so," remarked Quincy.
+
+"Well, now," said Alice, "I did it from the most generous of motives. I
+thought you knew about the surprise party as well as I did. I knew
+'Zekiel would go with me and I thought that perhaps you had some other
+young lady in view for your companion."
+
+"What?" asked Quincy. "Whom could I have had in view?"
+
+"Shall I tell you whom I think?" asked Alice.
+
+"I wish you would," Quincy replied.
+
+"Well," said Alice, "I thought it might be Lindy Putnam."
+
+Quincy bit his lip and gave the reins a savage jerk, as he turned up the
+short road that led to the Pettengill house. "What could make you think
+that, Miss Pettengill?"
+
+"Well, I have only one reason to give," Alice replied, "for that
+opinion, but the fact is, when we made our call on Mrs. Putnam she
+pounded on the floor three times with her crutch before you came
+upstairs. Am I justified, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I'm afraid you are," said Quincy. "I should have thought so myself if I
+had been in your place."
+
+But when he reached his room he threw his letters on the table, his coat
+and hat on the bed, and thrusting his hands into his pockets, he walked
+rapidly up and down the room, saying to himself in a savage whisper,
+"Confound that Putnam girl; she is a hoodoo."
+
+Quincy was philosophical, and his excited feelings soon quieted down. It
+would come out all right in the end. Alice would find that he had not
+intended to take Miss Putnam to the surprise party. He could not betray
+Lindy's confidence just at that time, even to justify himself. He must
+wait until Mrs. Putnam died. It might be years from now before the time
+came to destroy that letter, and he could not, until then, disclose to
+Alice the secret that Lindy had confided to him. Yes, it would come out
+all right in the end, for it might be if Alice thought he was in love
+with Lindy that she would give more thought to him. He had read
+somewhere that oftentimes the best way to awaken a dormant love was to
+appear to fall in love with some one else.
+
+Somewhat reconciled to the situation by his thoughts, he sat down to
+read his letters. The first one that he took up was from the
+confectioner. It informed him that his order would receive prompt
+attention, and the writer thanked him for past favors and solicited a
+continuance of the same. The second was from Ernst. It was short and to
+the point, and written in his characteristic style. It said:
+
+"Dear Quincy:--Pseudonym received. Bruce Douglas is a name to conjure
+with. It smacks of 'Auld Lang Syne.' The Scotch are the only people on
+the face of the earth who were never conquered. You will remember, if
+you haven't forgotten your ancient history, that the Roman general sent
+back word to his emperor that the d----d country wasn't worth conquering.
+Enclosures also at hand. The shorter ones are more songs than poems. I
+will turn them over to a music publisher, who is a friend of mine. Will
+report his decision later.
+
+"I gave the long poem to Francis Lippitt, the well-known composer, and
+he is delighted with it and wishes to set it to music. He is great on
+grand choruses, Bach fugues, and such like. If he sets it to music he
+will have it sung by the Handel and Haydn Society, for he is a great gun
+among them just now. The eight stories have reached New York by this
+time, and Jameson is reading 'Her Native Land.'
+
+"With best regards to Mr. Bruce Douglas and yourself.
+
+LEOPOLD ERNST.
+
+The third letter was from the Adjutant-General's office, and Quincy
+smiled as he finished the first sheet, folded it up and replaced it in
+the envelope. As he read the second the smile left his face. "Who would
+have thought it?" he said to himself. "Well, after all, heroes are made
+out of strange material. He is the man for my money and I'll back him
+up, and beat that braggart."
+
+On the following Sunday, after dinner, Quincy had a chat with Uncle Ike.
+He took the opportunity of asking the old gentleman if he was fully
+satisfied with the progress towards recovery that his niece was making.
+
+"I don't see that she is making any progress," said Uncle Ike frankly.
+"I don't think she can see a bit better than she could when she came
+home. In fact, I don't think she can see as well. She had a pair of
+glasses made of black rubber, with a pinhole in the centre of them, that
+she could read a little with, but I notice now that she never puts them
+on."
+
+"Well," remarked Quincy, "perhaps I have taken an unwarrantable liberty,
+Uncle Ike; but when I was last in Boston I heard of a new doctor who has
+made some wonderful cures, and I have engaged him to come down here next
+week and see your niece. Of course, if you object I will write to him
+not to come, and no harm will be done."
+
+Quincy did not think it necessary to state that he had paid the doctor
+his fee of one hundred dollars in advance.
+
+"Well," said Uncle Ike, "I certainly sha'n't object, if the doctor can
+do her any good. But I should like to know something about the course of
+treatment, the nature of it, I mean, before she gives up her present
+doctor."
+
+"That's just what I mean," said Quincy. "I want you to be so kind as to
+take this whole matter off my hands, just as though I had made the
+arrangement at your suggestion. I am going down for the doctor next
+Thursday noon. Won't you ride down with me and meet Dr. Tillotson? You
+can talk to him on the way home, and then you can manage the whole
+matter yourself, and do as you think best about changing doctors."
+
+"You have been very kind to my niece, Mr. Sawyer, since you have been
+here," said Uncle Ike, "and very helpful to her. I attribute your
+interest in her case to your kindness of heart and a generosity which is
+seldom found in the sons of millionaires. But take my advice, Mr.
+Sawyer, and let your feelings stop there."
+
+"I do not quite understand you," replied Quincy, though from a sudden
+sinking of his heart he felt that he did.
+
+"Then I will speak plainer," said Uncle Ike. "Don't fall in love with my
+niece, Mr. Sawyer. She is a good girl, a sweet girl, and some might call
+her a beautiful one, but she has her limitations. She is not fitted to
+sit in a Beacon Street parlor; and your parents and sisters would not be
+pleased to have you place her there. Excuse an old man, Mr. Sawyer, but
+you know wisdom cometh with age, although its full value is not usually
+appreciated by the young."
+
+Quincy, for the first time in his life, was entirely at a loss for a
+reply. He burned to declare his love then and there; but how could he do
+so in the face of such a plain statement of facts? He did the best thing
+possible under the circumstances; he quietly ignored Uncle Ike's advice,
+and thanking him for his kindness in consenting to meet the new doctor
+he bade him good afternoon and went to his room.
+
+After Quincy had gone Uncle Ike rubbed his hands together gleefully and
+shook with laughter.
+
+"The sly rogue!" he said to himself. "Wanted Uncle Ike to help him out."
+Then he laughed again. "If he don't love her he will take my advice, but
+if he does, what I told him will drive him on like spurs in the side of
+a horse. He is a good fellow, a great deal better than his father and
+the rest of his family, for he isn't stuck up. I like him, but my Alice
+is good enough for him even if he were a good deal better than he is.
+How it would tickle me to hear my niece calling the Hon. Nathaniel
+Sawyer papa!" And Uncle Ike laughed until his sides shook.
+
+Monday promised to be a dull day. 'Zekiel told Quincy at breakfast,
+after the others had left the table, that Alice had spoken to him about
+Mrs. Mason's invitation to tea, and, of course, he was going. Quincy
+said that he had accepted the invitation and would be pleased to
+accompany him and his sister.
+
+After breakfast he heard Alice singing in the parlor, and joining her
+there told her that he had received a letter from Mr. Ernst, which he
+would like to read to her. Alice was delighted with the letter, and they
+both laughed heartily over it, Quincy humorously apologizing for the
+swear word by saying that being historical it could not be profane.
+
+Alice had in her hand the two letters that she had received on Saturday.
+
+"Have you answered your letters?" he asked.
+
+"No, I have not even heard them read," she replied. "Uncle Ike has grown
+tired all at once and won't read to me nor write for me. I don't
+understand him at all. I sent for him yesterday afternoon, after you
+came down, and told him what I wanted him to do. He sent back word that
+he was too busy and I must get somebody else, but who can I get? Mandy
+and 'Zekiel are both too much occupied with their own duties to help
+me."
+
+"If I can be of any service to you, Miss Pettengill, you know--"
+
+"Oh, I don't think I should dare to let you read these letters,"
+interrupted Alice, laughing. "No doubt they are from two of my lady
+friends, and I have always heard that men consider letters that women
+write to each other very silly and childish."
+
+"Perhaps I have not told you," said Quincy, "that I have two sisters and
+am used to that sort of thing. When I was in college hardly a day passed
+that I did not get a letter from one or the other of them, and they
+brightened up my life immensely."
+
+"What are their names and how old are they?" asked Alice.
+
+"The elder," replied Quincy, "is nineteen and her name is Florence
+Estelle."
+
+"What a sweet name!" said Alice.
+
+"The younger is between fifteen and sixteen, and is named Maude
+Gertrude."
+
+"Is she as dignified as her name?" asked Alice.
+
+"Far from it," remarked Quincy. "She would be a tomboy if she had an
+opportunity. Mother and father call them Florence and Maude, for they
+both abhor nicknames, but among ourselves they are known as Flossie, or
+Stell, and Gertie."
+
+"What was your nickname?" asked Alice.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "they used to call me Quinn, but that had a
+Hibernian sound to it, and Maude nicknamed me Ad, which she said was
+short for adder. She told me she called me that because I was so deaf
+that I never heard her when she asked me to take her anywhere."
+
+"Well, Mr. Sawyer, if you will promise not to laugh out loud, I will be
+pleased to have you read these letters to me. You can smile all you wish
+to, for of course I can't see you."
+
+"I agree," said Quincy; and he advanced towards her, took the two
+letters and drew a chair up beside her.
+
+"My dear May," read Quincy. He stopped suddenly, and turning to Alice
+said, "Is this letter for you?"
+
+"Before we go any further," said Alice, "I must explain my various names
+and nicknames. I was named Mary Alice, the Mary being my mother's name,
+while the Alice was a favorite of my father's. Mother always called me
+Mary and father always called me Alice! and brother 'Zekiel and Uncle
+Ike seem to like the name Alice best. When I went to Commercial College
+to study they asked me my name and I said naturally Mary A. Pettengill.
+Then the girls began to call me May, and the boys, or young men I
+suppose you call them, nicknamed me Miss Atlas, on account of my
+initials. Now that I have given you a chart of my names to go by, the
+reading will no doubt be plain sailing in future."
+
+Quincy laughed and said, "I should call it a M.A.P. instead of a chart."
+
+"Fie! Mr. Sawyer, to make such a joke upon my poor name. No doubt you
+have thought of one that would please you better than any I have
+mentioned."
+
+Quincy thought he had, but he wisely refrained from saying so. He could
+not help thinking, however, that Miss Atlas was a very appropriate name
+for a girl who was all the world to him. It is evident that Uncle Ike's
+words of advice the previous afternoon had not taken very deep root in
+Quincy's heart.
+
+He resumed his reading:
+
+"My dear May:--How are you getting along in that dismal country town,
+and how are your poor eyes? I know you can't write to me, but I want you
+to know that I have not forgotten you. Every time I see my sister,
+Stella, she waves your photograph before my eyes. You know you promised
+me one before you were sick. Just send it to me, and it will be just as
+nice as a good, long letter. As somebody else will probably read this to
+you, in order to keep them from committing a robbery I send you only one
+kiss.
+
+From your loving,
+EMMA FARNUM."
+
+"Are you smiling, Mr. Sawyer?" asked Alice.
+
+"Not at all," he answered. "I am looking grieved because Miss Farnum has
+such a poor opinion of me."
+
+Alice laughed merrily. "Emma is a very bright, pretty girl," said Alice.
+"She boarded at the same house that I did. Her sister Stella is married
+to a Mr. Dwight. I will answer her letter as she suggests by sending her
+the promised photograph. On the bureau in my room, Mr. Sawyer, you will
+find an envelope containing six photographs. I had them taken about a
+month before I was sick. Underneath you will find some heavy envelopes
+that the photographer gave me to mail them in."
+
+Quincy went upstairs three steps at a time. He found the package, and
+impelled by an inexplicable curiosity he counted the pictures and found
+there were seven. "She said six," he thought to himself. "I am positive
+she said there were only six." He took one of the pictures and put it in
+one of the mailing envelopes. He took another picture, and after giving
+it a long, loving look he placed it in the inside pocket of his coat,
+and with a guilty flush upon his face he fled from the room.
+
+Just as he reached the open parlor door a second thought, which is said
+to be the best, came to him, and he was about turning to go upstairs and
+replace the picture when Alice's acute ear heard him and she asked, "Did
+you find them?"
+
+Quincy, seeing that retreat was now impossible, said, "Yes," and resumed
+his seat beside her.
+
+"Did you find six?" said Alice.
+
+"There are five upstairs in the envelope and one here ready to address,"
+replied Quincy.
+
+"Her address," continued Alice, "is Miss Emma Farnum, care Cotton & Co.,
+Real Estate Brokers, Tremont Row."
+
+Quincy went to the table, wrote the address as directed, and tied the
+envelope with the string attached.
+
+"I am afraid the other letter cannot be so easily answered," said Alice.
+"Look at the signature, please, and see if it is not from Bessie White."
+
+"It is signed Bessie," said Quincy.
+
+"I thought so," exclaimed Alice. "She works for the same firm that I
+did."
+
+Quincy read the following:
+
+"My Dear May:--I know that you will be glad to learn what is going on at
+the great dry goods house of Borden, Waitt, & Fisher. Business is good,
+and we girls are all tired out when night comes and have to go to a
+party or the theatre to get rested. Mr. Ringgold, the head bookkeeper,
+is disconsolate over your absence, and asks done or more of us every
+morning if we have heard from Miss Pettengill. Then, every afternoon, he
+says, 'Did I ask you this morning how Miss Pettengill was getting
+along?' Of course it is this devotion to the interest of the firm that
+leads him to ask these questions."
+
+Alice flushed slightly, and turning to Quincy said, "Are you smiling,
+Mr. Sawyer? There is nothing in it, I assure you; Bessie is a great
+joker and torments the other girls unmercifully."
+
+"I am glad there is nothing in it," said Quincy. "If I were a woman I
+would be afraid to marry a bookkeeper. My household cash would have to
+balance to a cent, and at the end of the year he would insist on
+housekeeping showing a profit."
+
+Alice regained her composure and Quincy continued his reading:
+
+"What do you think! Rita Sanguily has left, and they say she is going to
+marry a Dr. Culver, who lives up on Beacon Hill somewhere."
+
+Quincy started a little as he read this, but made no comment.
+
+"I was out to see Stella Dwight the other day, and she showed me a
+picture of you. Can you spare one to your old friend,
+
+BESSIE WHITE.
+
+"P.S.--I don't expect an answer, but I shall expect the picture. I
+shall write you whenever I get any news, and send you a dozen kisses and
+two big hugs.                                                B.W."
+
+"She is more liberal than Miss Farnum," remarked Quincy. "She is not
+afraid that I will commit robbery."
+
+"No," rejoined Alice, "but I cannot share with you. Bessie White is the
+dearest friend I have in the world."
+
+"Miss White is fortunate," said Quincy, "but who is Rita Sanguily, if I
+am not presuming in asking the question?"
+
+"She is a Portuguese girl," answered Alice, "with black eyes and
+beautiful black hair. She is very handsome and can talk Portuguese,
+French, and Spanish. She held a certain line of custom on this account.
+Do you know her?"
+
+"No," replied Quincy, "but I think I know Dr. Culver."
+
+"What kind of a looking man is he?" asked Alice.
+
+"Oh! he is tall and heavily built, with large bright blue eyes and tawny
+hair," said Quincy.
+
+"I like such marked contrasts in husband and wife," remarked Alice.
+
+"So do I," said Quincy, looking at himself in a looking glass which hung
+opposite, and then at Alice; "but how about Miss White's picture?"
+
+"Can I trouble you to get one?" said Alice.
+
+"No trouble at all," replied Quincy; but he went up the stairs this time
+one step at a time. He was deliberating whether he should return that
+picture that was in his coat pocket or keep it until the original should
+be his own. He entered the room, took another picture and another
+envelope and came slowly downstairs. His crime at first had been
+unpremeditated, but his persistence was deliberate felony.
+
+"Now there are four left," said Alice, as Quincy entered the room.
+
+"Just four," he replied. "I counted them to make sure." He sat at the
+table and wrote. "Will this do?" he asked: "Miss Bessie White, care of
+Borden, Waitt, & Fisher, Boston, Mass.?"
+
+"Oh, thank you so much," said Alice.
+
+At this moment Mandy appeared at the door and announced dinner, and
+Quincy had the pleasure of leading Alice to her accustomed seat at the
+table.
+
+"I took the liberty while upstairs," said Quincy, "to glance at a book
+that was on your bureau entitled, 'The Love of a Lifetime,' Have you
+read it?"
+
+"No," replied Alice. "I commenced it the night before I was taken sick."
+
+"I shall be pleased to read it aloud to you," said Quincy.
+
+"I should enjoy listening to it very much," she replied.
+
+So after dinner they returned to the parlor and Quincy read aloud until
+the descending sun again sent its rays through the parlor windows to
+fall upon Alice's face and hair, and Quincy thought to himself how happy
+he should be if the fair girl who sat beside him ever became the love of
+his lifetime.
+
+Alice finally said she was tired and must have a rest. Quincy called
+Mandy and she went to her room. A few moments later Quincy was in his
+own room and after locking his door sat down to inspect his plunder.
+
+Alice did not rest, however; something was on her mind. She found her
+way to the bureau and took up the pictures.
+
+"Only four," she said to herself, after counting them. "Let me see," she
+continued, "the photographer gave me thirteen,--a baker's dozen he
+called it. Now to whom have I given them? 'Zekiel, one; Uncle Ike, two;
+Mrs. Putnam, three; Stella Dwight, four; Bessie White, five; Emma
+Farnum, six; Mr. Ringgold, seven; Mr. Fisher, eight. That would leave
+five and I have only four. Now to whom did I give that other picture?"
+
+And the guilty thief sat on the other side of the partition and exulted
+in his crime. There came a loud rap at his door, and Quincy started up
+so suddenly that he dropped the picture and it fell to the floor. He
+caught it up quickly and placed it in his pocket. As he unlocked the
+door and opened it he heard loud rapping on the door of Miss
+Pettengill's room.
+
+Looking into the entry he saw 'Zekiel, who cried out, "Say, you folks,
+have you forgotten that you have been invited out to tea this evening,
+and that we are going to give a surprise party to Mr. Strout and his
+friends? I am all dressed and the sleigh is ready."
+
+Without waiting for a reply he dashed downstairs.
+
+While Quincy was donning his sober suit of black, with a Prince Albert
+coat and white tie, Alice had put on an equally sober costume of fawn
+colored silk, with collar and cuffs of dainty lace, with little dashes
+of pink ribbon, by way of contrast in color.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+THE SURPRISE PARTY.
+
+
+After Alice had taken her place on the back seat in the double sleigh,
+Quincy started to take his place on the front seat, beside 'Zekiel, but
+the latter motioned him to sit beside Alice, and Quincy did so without
+needing any urging.
+
+As 'Zekiel took up the reins, Quincy leaned forward and touched him on
+the shoulder.
+
+"I've just thought," said he, "that I've made a big blunder and I can't
+see how I can repair it."
+
+"What's the matter?" asked 'Zekiel; and Alice turned an inquiring face
+towards Quincy.
+
+"The fact is," Quincy continued, "I ordered some ice cream and cake sent
+down from the city for the show to-night, but I forgot, I am ashamed to
+say, to make arrangements to have it sent up to Deacon Mason's. It will
+be directed to him, but the station agent won't be likely to send it up
+before to-morrow."
+
+"What time is it?" asked 'Zekiel.
+
+Quincy looked at his watch and replied, "It is just half-past four."
+
+"Why do we go so early?" inquired Alice, "they will not have tea till
+six."
+
+"Oh," said 'Zekiel, "I intended to give you a sleigh ride first anyway.
+Now with this pair of trotters I am going to take you over to
+Eastborough Centre and have you back at Deacon Mason's barn door in just
+one hour and with appetites that it will take two suppers to satisfy."
+
+With this 'Zekiel whipped up his horses and they dashed off towards the
+town. A short distance beyond Uncle Ike's chicken coop they met Abner
+Stiles driving home from the Centre. He nodded to 'Zekiel, but Quincy
+did not notice him, being engaged in conversation with Alice at the
+time. They reached the station, and Quincy gave orders to have the
+material sent up, so that it would arrive at about half-past nine.
+'Zekiel more than kept his promise, for they reached Deacon Mason's barn
+at exactly twenty-nine minutes past five. Hiram was on hand to put up
+the horses, and told Quincy in a whisper that some of the boys thought
+it was mighty mean not to invite the Pettengill folks and their boarder.
+
+The sharp air had whetted the appetites of the travellers during their
+six-mile ride, and they did full justice to the nicely-cooked food that
+the Deacon's wife placed before them. Supper was over at quarter before
+seven, and in half an hour the dishes were washed and put away and the
+quartette of young folks adjourned to the parlor.
+
+Quincy took his seat at the piano and began playing a popular air.
+
+"Oh, let us sing something," cried Huldy. "You know I have been taking
+lessons from Professor Strout, and he says I have improved greatly. If
+he says it you know it must be so; and, did you know Alice, that 'Zekiel
+has a fine baritone voice?"
+
+"We used to sing a good deal together," said Alice, "but I was no judge
+of voices then."
+
+"Well, 'Zeke don't know a note of music," continued Huldy, "but he has a
+quick ear and he seems to know naturally just how to use his voice."
+
+"Oh, nonsense," said 'Zekiel, "I don't know how to sing, I only hum a
+little. Sing us something, Mr. Sawyer," said he.
+
+Quincy sang a song very popular at the time, entitled "The Jockey Hat
+and Feather." All four joined in the chorus, and at the close the room
+rang with laughter. Quincy then struck up another popular air, "Pop Goes
+the Weasel," and this was sung by the four with great gusto. Then he
+looked over the music on the top of the piano, which was a Bourne &
+Leavitt square, and found a copy of the cantata entitled, "The
+Haymakers," and for half an hour the solos and choruses rang through the
+house and out upon the evening air.
+
+Mrs. Mason looked in the door and said, "I wouldn't sing any more now,
+it is nearly eight o'clock."
+
+And thus admonished they began talking of Tilly James's engagement to
+Sam Hill and the sale of the grocery store, which was to come off the
+next day.
+
+"I wonder who will buy it?" asked Huldy.
+
+"Well, I hear Strout has got some backers," said 'Zekiel, "but I don't
+see what good it will be to him unless he is appointed postmaster. They
+say he has written to Washington and applied for the position."
+
+Quincy pricked up his ears at this. He had almost forgotten this chance
+to put another spoke in Mr. Strout's wheel. He made a mental memorandum
+to send telegrams to two Massachusetts congressmen with whom he was well
+acquainted to hold up Strout's appointment at all hazards until they
+heard from him again.
+
+A little after seven o'clock the advance guard of the surprise party
+arrived at Hill's grocery, which was the appointed rendezvous. Abner
+Stiles drew Strout to one side and said, "I saw the Pettengill folks and
+that city feller in 'Zeke's double sleigh going over to the Centre at
+about five o'clock."
+
+"So much the better," said Strout.
+
+"Do you know where they've gone?" inquired Stiles.
+
+"No, but I guess I can find out," Strout replied.
+
+He had spied Mandy Skinner among a crowd of girls on the platform. He
+called her and she came to him.
+
+"Did Mr. Pettengill and his sister take tea at home to-night?"
+
+"No," said Mandy. "I told them I was going away to-night, and Mr.
+Pettengill said they were going away too. And Cobb's twins told me at
+dinner time that they wouldn't be home to supper; and as I didn't wish
+to eat too much, considering what was coming later, I didn't get no
+supper at all. I left Crowley to look out for Uncle Ike, who is always
+satisfied if he gets toast and tea."
+
+"Don't you know where they've gone?" inquired Strout.
+
+"Over to the hotel, I guess," said Mandy. "I heard Mr. Sawyer tell Miss
+Alice that they had good oysters over there, and she said as how she was
+dying to get some raw oysters."
+
+"Things couldn't have worked better," remarked Strout, as he rejoined
+Abner, who was smoking a cheap cigar. "The Pettengill crowd has gone
+over to the hotel to supper. You ought not to smoke, Abner, if you are
+going to kiss the girls to-night," said Strout.
+
+"I guess I sha'n't do much kissin'," replied Abner, "except what I give
+my fiddle with the bow, and that fiddle of mine is used to smoke."
+
+Strout looked around and saw that the whole party had assembled. There
+were about fifty in all, very nearly equally divided as regarded numbers
+into fellows and girls.
+
+"Now I am going ahead," said Strout, "to interview the old lady, before
+we jump in on them. The rest of you just follow Abner and wait at the
+top of the hill, just round the corner, so that they can't see you from
+the house. I have arranged with Hiram to blow his bugle when everything
+is ready, and when you hear it you just rush down hill laughing and
+screaming and yelling like wild Injuns. Come in the back door, right
+into the big kitchen, and when Miss Huldy comes into the room you just
+wait till I deliver my speech."
+
+Strout started off, and the party followed Abner to the appointed
+waiting place.
+
+Strout knocked lightly at the kitchen door, and it was opened by Mrs.
+Mason.
+
+"Is the Deacon at home?" inquired he, endeavoring to disguise his voice.
+
+"No," said Mrs. Mason, "he has gone to Eastborough Centre on some
+business, but told me he would be back about half past nine."
+
+"Is Hiram here?" asked Strout.
+
+"He's out in the kitchen polishing up his bugle," said Mrs. Mason. "But
+come in a minute, Mr. Strout, I have got something to fell you."
+
+Strout stepped in and quietly closed the door.
+
+"What's the matter, Mrs. Mason? I hope Huldy isn't sick."
+
+"No," said she, "it's unfortunate it has happened as it has, but it
+couldn't be avoided. You see she invited some company to tea, and I
+supposed that they would have gone home long 'fore this. You see, Huldy
+don't suspect nothing, and she has asked them to spend the evening, and
+I don't see how in the world I am going to get rid of them."
+
+"Don't do it," said Strout. "Extend to them an invitation in my name to
+remain and enjoy the evening's festivities with us. No doubt Miss Huldy
+will be pleased to have them stay."
+
+"I know she will," said Mrs. Mason, "and I'll give them your invite as
+soon as you're ready."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Mason," said Strout, "just tell Hiram I am ready to have him
+blow that bugle, and when you hear it you can just tell your daughter
+and her friends what's up."
+
+Hiram soon joined Strout outside the kitchen door. The latter went out
+in the road and looked up the hill to see if his party was all ready.
+Abner waved his hand, and Strout rushed back to Hiram and cried, "Give
+it to 'em now, Hiram, and do your darnedest!"
+
+Huldy and her friends were engaged in earnest conversation, when a loud
+blast burst upon the air, followed by a succession of piercing notes
+from Hiram's old cracked bugle.
+
+Huldy jumped to her feet and exclaimed, "What does Hiram want to blow
+that horrid old bugle at this time of night for? I will tell ma to stop
+him."
+
+She started towards the parlor door, when the whole party heard shouts
+of laughter, screams from female voices, and yells from male ones that
+would have done credit to a band of wild Comanches.
+
+All stood still and listened. Again the laughter, screams, and yells
+were heard. This time they seemed right under the parlor window.
+
+A look of surprise and almost terror passed over Alice's face, and
+turning to Quincy unthinkingly she said in a low whisper, "What was
+that, Quincy? What does it mean?"
+
+Quincy's heart jumped as his Christian name fell from the girl's lips.
+He put his left hand over his heart (her picture was in the pocket just
+beneath it) and said as naturally as he could, although with a little
+tremor in his voice, "It's all right, Alice, that's Mr. Strout's idea of
+a surprise party."
+
+"A surprise party!" cried Huldy, "who for? Me?"
+
+At this moment Mrs. Mason opened the door and entered the room.
+
+"Huldy," said she, "Professor Strout wishes me to tell you that he and
+his friends have come to give you a surprise party, and he wished me to
+invite you," turning to the others, "as Huldy's friends to remain and
+enjoy the festivities of the evening."
+
+Then the poor old lady, who had been under a nervous strain for the past
+ten days, and who had come nearer telling untruths than she ever had
+before in her life, began to laugh, and then to cry, and finally sank
+into a chair, overcome for the moment.
+
+"I wish Abraham was here," said she, "I guess I'm getting a little bit
+nervous."
+
+Let us return to the great kitchen, which the members of the surprise
+party now had in their possession. A dozen of the men produced lanterns,
+which they lighted, and which were soon hung upon the walls of the
+kitchen, one of the number having brought a hammer and some nails.
+
+It was a pound party, and two young men fetched in a basket containing
+the goodies which had been brought for the supper. Strout had made
+arrangements to have the hot coffee made at the grocery store, and it
+was to be brought down at half-past nine.
+
+He arranged his party so that all could get a good view of the door
+through which Huldy must come. He stepped forward within ten feet of the
+door and stood expectantly. Why this delay? Strout looked around at the
+party. There were Tilly James and Sam Hill; Cobb's twins, and each
+brought a pretty girl; Robert Wood, Benjamin Bates, and Arthur Scates
+were equally well supplied; Lindy Putnam, after much solicitation, had
+consented to come with Emmanuel Howe, the clergyman's son, and he was in
+the seventh heaven of delight; Mandy stood beside Hiram and his bugle,
+and Samantha Green had Farmer Tompkins's son George for escort. It was a
+real old-fashioned, democratic party. Clergymen's sons, farmers' sons,
+girls that worked out, chore boys, farm hands, and an heiress to a
+hundred thousand dollars, met on a plane of perfect equality without a
+thought of caste, and to these were soon to be added more farmers' sons
+and daughters and the only son of a millionaire.
+
+"Just give them a call," said Strout, turning to Hiram, and the latter
+gave a blast on his bugle, which sent fingers to the ears of his
+listeners. The handle of the door turned and opened and Huldy entered,
+her mother leaning upon her arm.
+
+They were greeted by hand clapping and cries of "Good evening" from the
+party, and all eyes were fixed upon Strout, who stood as if petrified
+and gazed at the three figures that came through the open door and stood
+behind Huldy and her mother. Hamlet following the fleeting apparition on
+the battlements of the castle at Elsinore, Macbeth viewing Banquo at his
+feast, or Richard the Third gazing on the ghostly panorama of the
+murdered kings and princes, could not have felt weaker at heart than did
+Professor Strout when he saw the new-comers and realized that they were
+there by his express invitation.
+
+The members of the surprise party thought Strout had forgotten his
+speech, and cries of "Speech!" "Speech!" "Give us the speech!" fell upon
+his ear, but no words fell from his lips. It was a cruel blow, but no
+crueler than the unfounded stories that he had started and circulated
+about the town for the past three months. Those who had thought it was
+mean not to invite the Pettengills and Mr. Sawyer enjoyed his
+discomfiture and were the loudest in calling for a speech.
+
+The situation became somewhat strained, and Huldy looked up to Quincy
+with an expression that seemed to say, How are we going to get out of
+this?
+
+Quite a number of the party saw this look and immediately began calling
+out, "Mr. Sawyer, give us a speech!" "A speech from Mr. Sawyer!"
+
+Huldy smiled and nodded to Quincy, and then there were loud cries of
+"Speech! Speech!" and clapping of hands.
+
+Abner Stiles got up and gave his chair to Professor Strout, who sank
+into it, saying as he did so, "I guess it was the heat."
+
+Quincy stepped forward and bowing to Huldy and then to Mrs. Mason,
+addressed the party in a low but clearly distinct voice.
+
+"Authorized by these ladies to speak for them, I desire to return
+sincere thanks for this manifestation of your regard for them. Your
+visit was entirely unexpected by Miss Mason and a great surprise to her.
+But it is a most pleasant surprise, and she desires me to thank you
+again and again for your kind thoughts and your good company this
+evening. She and her mother join in giving you a most hearty welcome.
+They wish you to make yourselves at home and will do all in their power
+to make the evening a happy one and one long to be remembered by the
+inhabitants of Mason's Corner. The inception of this happy event, I
+learn, is due to Professor Strout, who for some time, I understand, has
+been Miss Mason's music teacher, and the ladies, whose ideas I am
+expressing, desire me to call upon him to take charge of the festivities
+and bring them to a successful close, as he is no doubt competent and
+willing to do."
+
+Quincy bowed low and retired behind the other members of the party.
+
+Quincy's speech was greeted with cheers and more clapping of hands. Even
+Strout's friends were pleased by the graceful compliment paid to the
+Professor, and joined in the applause.
+
+Strout had by this time fully recovered his equanimity. A chair was
+placed upon the kitchen table and Abner Stiles was boosted up and took
+his seat thereon. While he was tuning up his fiddle the Professor opened
+a package that one of the girls handed to him and passed a pair of
+knitted woollen wristers to each lady in the company. He gave three
+pairs to Huldy, who in turn gave one pair to her mother and one to
+Alice. There were several pairs over, as several girls who had been
+expected to join the party had not come.
+
+"Now, Mrs. Mason," said the Professor, "could you kindly supply me with
+a couple of small baskets, or if not, with a couple of milk pans?"
+
+The Professor took one of the pans and Robert Wood the other.
+
+"The ladies wall please form in line," cried the Professor; which was
+done. "Now will each lady," said the Professor, "as she marches between
+us, throw one wrister in one pan and t'other wrister in the other pan?
+Give us a good, lively march, Abner," he added, and the music began.
+
+The procession passed between the upheld pans, one wrister of each pair
+thrown right and the other left, as it moved on.
+
+The music stopped. "Now, will the ladies please form in line again,"
+said the Professor, "and as they pass through each one take a wrister
+from the pan held by Mr. Wood."
+
+The music started up again and the procession moved forward and the work
+of selection was completed.
+
+Again the music stopped. "Now will the gentlemen form in line, and as
+they march forward each one take a wrister from the pan that I hold,"
+said the Professor.
+
+Once more the music started up. The line was formed, the procession
+advanced, 'Zekiel and Quincy bringing up the rear. As Quincy took the
+last wrister from the pan that the Professor held, the latter turned
+quickly away and beat a tattoo on the bottom of the pan with his
+knuckles and cried out, "Gentlemen will please find their partners. The
+wristers become the property of the gentlemen."
+
+Then a wild rush took place. Screams of laughter were heard on every
+side, and it was fully five minutes before the excitement subsided, and
+in response to another tattoo upon the milk pan by the Professor, the
+couples, as arranged by the hand of Fate, formed in line and marched
+around the great kitchen to the music of a sprightly march written by
+the Professor and called "The Wrister March," and respectfully dedicated
+to Miss Hulda Mason. This announcement was made by Mr. Stiles from his
+elevated position upon the kitchen table.
+
+The hand of Fate had acted somewhat strangely. The Professor and Mandy
+Skinner stood side by side, as did 'Zekiel Pettengill and Mrs. Mason.
+Lindy Putnam and Huldy by a queer twist of fortune were mated with
+Cobb's twins.
+
+But Fate did one good act. By chance Quincy and Alice stood side by
+side. She looked up at him and said to her partner, "What is your name,
+I cannot see your face?"
+
+"My name is Quincy," said Sawyer in a low voice.
+
+"I am so glad!" said Alice, leaning a little more heavily on his arm.
+
+"So am I," responded Quincy ardently.
+
+After the procession had made several circuits of the great kitchen,
+Professor Strout gave a signal, and it broke up, each gentleman being
+then at liberty to seek the lady of his own choice.
+
+"What games shall we play fust?" asked Strout, taking the centre of the
+room, and looking round upon the company with a countenance full of
+smiles and good nature.
+
+"Who is it?" "Who is it?" came from a dozen voices.
+
+"All right," cried Strout; "that's a very easy game to play. Now all you
+ladies git in a line and I'll put this one chair right front of yer. Now
+all the gentlemen must leave the room except one. I suppose we can use
+the parlor, Mrs. Mason?"
+
+Mrs. Mason nodded her head in the affirmative.
+
+"I'll 'tend door," said Hiram; and he took his position accordingly.
+After the rest of the gentlemen had left the room, Hiram closed the
+door, and turning to Huldy said, "Shall I call them, or will you?"
+
+"You call them," said Huldy.
+
+"Got the handkerchief ready?" asked Hiram.
+
+Huldy swung a big red bandanna in the air. Opening a door, Hiram called
+out in a loud voice, "Obadiah Strout."
+
+As Strout walked towards the line of young girls they called out
+together, "Mister, please take a chair."
+
+Strout sat down in a chair. One of the girls who had the bandanna
+handkerchief in her hand passed it quickly over his eyes and tied it
+firmly behind his head. Two of the girls then stepped forward and each
+one taking one of his hands and extending it at right angles with his
+body held it firmly in their grasps. At the same instant his head was
+pulled back by one of the girls and a kiss was imprinted on his upturned
+mouth.
+
+"Who is it?" screamed the girls in unison. The holds on the Professor's
+head and hands were released and he sat upright in the chair.
+
+"I kinder guess it was Miss Huldy Mason," said he.
+
+A loud laugh burst from the girls, mixed with cries of "You're wrong!"
+"You ain't right!" "You didn't get it!" "You're out!" and similar
+ejaculations.
+
+The handkerchief was taken from his eyes and he was marched to the left
+of the line of girls, which ran length-wise of the kitchen.
+
+Abner Stiles was the next one called in, and he was subjected to the
+same treatment as had befallen his predecessor, but to the intense
+disgust of Professor Strout he saw Hiram Maxwell come on tiptoe from the
+parlor door, lean over and kiss Abner Stiles. The thought of course ran
+through his mind that he had been subjected to the same treatment. He
+was on the point of protesting at this way of conducting the game when
+the idea occurred to him that it would be a huge satisfaction to have
+that city chap subjected to the same treatment, and he decided to hold
+his peace.
+
+The next one called was 'Zekiel Pettengill, and he was treated in the
+same manner as the Professor and Abner had been; but as Hiram leaned
+over to kiss him, 'Zekiel's foot slipped upon the floor and struck
+against Hiram's, Hiram being in front of him. 'Zekiel then put up both
+of his feet and kicked with them in such a way that Hiram was unable to
+approach him.
+
+'Zekiel called out, "It's Hiram Maxwell," and the room rang with the
+laughs and cries of the girls.
+
+'Zekiel, having guessed who it was, was marched off to the right of the
+line of girls.
+
+Strout called out, "Let's play something else," but the sentiment of the
+company seemed to be that it wasn't fair to the others not to give them
+a chance, so the game continued. Quincy was the next one called, and to
+still further increase the disgust of Strout and Abner, instead of Hiram
+leaving the door, as before, one of the girls stepped out from the line,
+at a signal from Huldy, and kissed Quincy. He guessed that it was Miss
+Huldy Mason, and was greeted with the same cries that Strout had heard.
+He took his place at the left with the latter.
+
+Strout leaned over and whispered in Abner's ear, "That was a put-up job.
+I'll get even with Hiram Maxwell before I get through."
+
+The game continued until all the men had been called in. With the
+exception of Emmanuel Howe, none of them were able to guess who it was.
+When Emmanuel took his place by the side of 'Zekiel he confided the fact
+to him that he guessed it was Miss Putnam on account of the perfumery
+which he had noticed before he left the house with her.
+
+After this game others followed in quick succession. There were
+"Pillow," "Roll the Cover," "Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?"
+"Copenhagen," and finally "Post Office." From all of these games Alice
+begged to be excused. She told the Professor that she was not bashful
+nor diffident, but that her eyesight was so poor that she knew she would
+detract from the pleasure of the others if she engaged in the games.
+The Professor demurred at first, but said finally that her excuse was a
+good one. Then he turned to Abner and remarked that he supposed Mr.
+Sawyer would ask to be excused next 'cause his girl wasn't going to
+play.
+
+But Quincy had no such intention. After leading Alice to a seat beside
+Mrs. Mason, he returned to the company and took part in every game,
+entering with spirit and vivacity into each of them. He invented some
+forfeits that one girl objected to the forfeit exacted of her as being
+all out of proportion to her offence, the matter was referred to Quincy.
+He said that he would remit the original forfeit and she could kiss him
+instead. But she objected, saying that forfeit was worse than the other
+one. This pleased Strout greatly, and he remarked to Abner, who kept as
+close to him as the tail to a kite, that there was one girl in town who
+wasn't afraid to speak her mind.
+
+The game of Post Office was the most trying one to Quincy. Of his own
+free will he would not have called either Huldy or Lindy, but Strout and
+Abner and all the rest of them had letters for both of these young
+ladies. He was afraid that his failure to call them out might lead to
+remark, as he knew that Strout and Abner and Robert Wood were watching
+his actions closely. So, near the middle of the game, when he had been
+called out, he had a letter from England for Miss Lindy Putnam.
+
+As she raised her face to his for the kiss on the cheek that he gave
+her, she said, "I was afraid you had not forgiven me, after all."
+
+"Oh, yes, I have," said Quincy, and carried away by the excitement of
+the occasion, he caught her again in his arms and gave her another kiss,
+this time upon the lips.
+
+At this instant Abner Stiles, who was tending door, opened it and called
+out, "Takes a long time to pay the postage on one letter!"
+
+A little later Quincy was again called out, and this time he had a
+letter from Boston for Miss Mason. He kissed her on the cheek, as he had
+done with Lindy. Huldy looked up with a laugh and said, "Were you as
+bashful as that with Miss Putnam?"
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "at first, but there was double postage on her
+letter, the same as on yours." And though Huldy tried to break away from
+him he caught her and kissed her upon the lips, as he had done to Lindy.
+
+Again Abner opened the door and cried out that the mails would close in
+one minute, and he'd better get the stamps on that letter quick.
+
+[Illustration: "AN OLD-FASHIONED HUSKING BEE." (ACT III.)--Penalty of
+red ear.]
+
+All such good times come to an end, and the signal for the close was the
+return of Deacon Mason from his visit to town. He was popular with all
+parties, and Stroutites, Anti-Stroutites, and neutrals all gathered
+'round him and said they were having a beautiful time, and could they
+have a little dance after supper?
+
+The Deacon said he didn't know that dancing in itself was so bad, for
+the Bible referred to a great many dances. "But," said he, "I have
+always been agin permiscuous dancing."
+
+"But we ain't permiscuous," said Tilly James. "We are all friends and
+neighbors."
+
+"Most all," said Strout; but his remark was unnoticed by all excepting
+Quincy.
+
+"Well, under the circumstances," concluded the Deacon, "I don't object
+to your finishing up with an old-fashioned reel, and mother and me will
+jine in with you, so as to countenance the perceedings."
+
+The call was now made for supper. A procession was again formed, each
+gentleman taking the lady who had accompanied him to the party. They all
+filed into the dining-room and took their places around the long table.
+The most of them looked at its contents with surprise and delight.
+Instead of seeing only home-made cakes, and pies, and dishes of nuts,
+and raisins, and apples, that they had expected, occupying the centre
+of the table, they gazed upon a large frosted cake, in the centre of
+which arose what resembled the spire of a church, made of sugar and
+adorned with small American flags and streamers made of various colored
+silk ribbons. Flanking the centrepiece at each corner were large dishes
+containing mounds of jelly cake, pound cake, sponge cake, and angel
+cake. On either side of the centrepiece, shaped in fancy moulds, were
+two large dishes of ice cream, a third full of sherbet, and the fourth
+one filled with frozen pudding. In the vacant spaces about the larger
+dishes were smaller plates containing the home-made pies and cake, and
+the apples, oranges, dates, figs, raisins, nuts, and candy taken from
+the pound packages brought by the members of the surprise party. Piled
+upon the table in heaps were the fifty boxes containing the souvenir
+gifts that Quincy had ordered.
+
+As they took their places about the table, Quincy felt it incumbent upon
+him to say something. Turning to the Professor he addressed him:
+
+"Professor Strout, I think it is my duty to inform you that I have made
+this little addition to the bountiful supper supplied by you and the
+members of this party, on behalf of my friends, Mr. and Miss Pettengill,
+and myself. I trust that you will take as much pleasure in disposing of
+it as I have in sending it. In the language of the poet I would now say,
+'Fall to and may good digestion wait on appetite!'"
+
+Quincy's speech was received with applause. The hot coffee had arrived
+and was soon circulating in cups, mugs, and tumblers. Everybody was
+talking to everybody else at the same time, and all petty fueds,
+prejudices, and animosities were, apparently, forgotten.
+
+The young fellows took the cue from Quincy, who, as soon as he had
+finished his little speech, began filling the plates with the good
+things provided, and passing them to the ladies, and in a short time all
+had been waited upon. When both hunger and appetite had been satisfied,
+Quincy again addressed the company.
+
+"In those small paper boxes," said he, "you will find some little
+souvenirs, which you can keep to remind you of this very pleasant
+evening, or you can eat them and remember how sweet they were." A
+general laugh followed this remark. "In making your selection,"
+continued Quincy, "bear in mind that the boxes tied up with red ribbon
+are for the ladies, while those having blue ribbons are for the
+gentlemen."
+
+A rush was made for the table, and almost instantly each member of the
+company became possessed of a souvenir and was busily engaged in untying
+the ribbons.
+
+Again Quincy's voice was heard above the tumult.
+
+"In each package," cried he, "will be found printed on a slip of paper a
+poetical selection. The poetry, like that found on valentines, is often
+very poor, but the sentiment is there just the same. In the city the
+plan that we follow is to pass our own slip to our left-hand neighbor
+and he or she reads it."
+
+This was too much for the Professor.
+
+"I don't think," said he, "that we ought to foller that style of doin'
+things jest because they do it that way in the city. We are pretty
+independent in the country, like to do thing's our own way."
+
+"Oh! it don't make any difference to me," said Quincy; "in the city when
+we get a good thing we are willing to share it with our partners or
+friends; you know I said if you didn't wish to keep your souvenir, you
+could eat it, and of course the poetical selection is part of the
+souvenir."
+
+A peal of laughter greeted this sally, which rose to a shout when Strout
+took his souvenir out of the box. It proved to be a large sugar bee,
+very lifelike in appearance and having a little wad of paper rolled up
+and tucked under one of the wings.
+
+As Strout spread out the slip of paper with his fingers, loud cries of
+"Eat it!" "Read it!" and "Pass it along!" came from the company. The
+Professor stood apparently undecided what course to pursue, when Tilly
+James, who was standing at his left, grabbed it from his fingers, and
+running to the end of the table, stood beside young Hill with an
+expression that seemed to say, "This is my young man, and I know he will
+protect me."
+
+Loud cries of "Read it, Tilly!" came from all parts of the table.
+
+"Not unless Professor Strout is willing," said Tilly with mock humility.
+
+All eyes were turned upon Strout, who, seeing that he had nothing to
+gain by objecting, cried out, "Oh, go ahead; what do I care about such
+nonsense!"
+
+Tilly then read with much dramatic expression the following poetical
+effusion:
+
+    "How does the wicked bumblebee
+      Employ the shining hours,
+    In stinging folks that he dislikes,
+      Instead of sipping flowers."
+
+Another loud laugh greeted this; largely due to the comical expression
+on Tilly James's face, which so far upset Quincy's habitual gravity that
+he was obliged to smile in spite of himself.
+
+If Strout felt the shot he did not betray it, but turned to Huldy, who
+stood at his right, and said, "Now, Miss Mason, let me read your poetry
+for you, as they do it in the city."
+
+Huldy hesitated, holding the slip of paper between her fingers, "Oh!
+that ain't fair," said Strout. "I've set you a good example, now you
+mustn't squeal. Come, walk right up to the trough."
+
+"I'm no pig," protested Huldy.
+
+As Strout leaned over to take the paper he said in an undertone, "No,
+you are a little dear;" whereat Huldy's face flushed a bright crimson.
+
+Strout cleared his voice and then read:
+
+    "Come wreathe your face with smiles, my dear,
+     A husband you'll find within the year."
+
+This was greeted with laughter, clapping of hands, and cries of "Who is
+it, Huldy?"
+
+The Professor looked at Huldy inquiringly, but she averted her eyes. He
+leaned over and said in an undertone, "May I keep this?"
+
+Huldy looked up and said in a tone that was heard by every one at the
+table, "I don't care; if you like it better than that one about the
+bumblebee you can have it."
+
+The Professor then turned to Quincy and said, "Perhaps Mr. Sawyer will
+oblige the company by passing his poetry along, as they do it in the
+city."
+
+Quincy answered quickly, "Why, certainly," and handed the slip to his
+left-hand neighbor, who chanced to be Miss Seraphina Cotton, who was the
+teacher in the public school located at Mason's Corner.
+
+She prided herself on her elocutionary ability, and read the following
+with great expression:
+
+    "Though wealth and fame fall to my lot,
+     I'd much prefer a little cot,
+     In which, apart from care and strife,
+     I'd love my children and my wife."
+
+Strout laughed outright.
+
+"By the way, Mr. Sawyer," said he, "have you seen any little cot round
+here that you'd swap your Beacon Street house for?"
+
+"I've got my eye on some real estate in this town," said Quincy, "and if
+you own it perhaps we can make a trade."
+
+'Zekiel Pettengill passed his slip to Lindy Putnam; it ran thus:
+
+    "'An honest man's the noblest work of God,'
+     No nobler lives than he who tills the sod."
+
+This was greeted with shouts and cries of "Good for 'Zeke!" while one of
+Cobb's twins, who possessed a thin, high voice, cried out, "He's all
+wool and a yard wide."
+
+This provoked more shouts and hand-clapping, and 'Zekiel blushed like a
+peony.
+
+Lindy Putnam handed her slip to Quincy; he took in its meaning at a
+glance and looked at her inquiringly.
+
+Strout saw the glance and cried out, "Oh, come, now; don't leave out
+nothin'; read it jist as it's writ."
+
+Lindy nodded to Quincy and he read:
+
+    "There is no heart but hath some wish unfilled,
+     There is no soul without some longing killed,
+     With heart and soul work for thy heart's desire.
+     And turn not back for storm, nor flood, nor fire."
+
+"This is gittin' quite tragic," said Strout. "I guess we've had all we
+want to eat and drink, and have listened to all the bad poetry we want
+ter, and I move--"
+
+"Second the motion," cried Abner Stiles.
+
+"And I move," continued Strout, "that we git back inter the kitchen, and
+have a little dance jist to shake our suppers down."
+
+After the company returned to the kitchen, Abner was again lifted to his
+elevated position on the kitchen table, and the fun began again. There
+was no doubt that in telling stories Abner Stiles often drew the long
+bow, but it was equally true that he had no superior in Eastborough and
+vicinity on the violin, or the fiddle, as he preferred to call it. He
+was now in his glory. His fiddle was tucked under his chin, a red silk
+handkerchief with large yellow polka dots protecting the violin from
+injury from his stubbly beard rather than his chin from being injured by
+the instrument.
+
+After a few preliminary chords, Abner struck up the peculiar dance
+movement very popular in those days, called "The Cure." As if
+prearranged, Hiram Maxwell and Mandy Skinner ran to the centre of the
+room and began singing the words belonging to the dance. Abner gradually
+increased the speed of the melody, and the singers conformed, thereto.
+Faster and faster the music went, and higher and higher the dancers
+jumped until the ceiling prevented any further progress upward. They
+leaned forward and backward, they leaned from side to side, but still
+kept up their monotonous leaps into the air. Finally, when almost
+exhausted, they sank into chairs hastily brought for them, amid the
+applause of the party.
+
+Quincy had seen the dance at the city theatres, but acknowledged to
+himself that the country version was far ahead of the city one. At the
+same time it seemed to him that the dance savored of barbarism, and he
+recalled pictures and stories of Indian dances where the participants
+fell to the ground too weak to rise.
+
+"I put my right hand in," called out one of the fellows. Cries of "Oh,
+yes, that's it!" came from the company, and they arranged themselves in
+two rows, facing each other and running the length of the long room.
+They were in couples, as they came to the party. Abner played the melody
+on his violin, and the fellows and girls sang these words:
+
+    "I put my right hand in,
+     I put my right hand out,
+     I give my right hand a shake, shake, shake,
+     And I turn myself about."
+
+As they sang the last line they did turn themselves about so many times
+that it seemed a wonder to Quincy, who was an amused spectator, how they
+kept upon their feet.
+
+Seeing that one of the young ladies in the line was without a partner,
+Quincy took his place beside her and joined in the merriment as heartily
+as the rest. Then followed all the changes of "I put my left hand in,"
+"I put my right foot in," "I put my left foot in," and so on until the
+whole party was nearly as much exhausted as Hiram and Mandy had been.
+
+At this moment the door leading to the parlor opened and Deacon Mason
+entered, accompanied by his wife. They were greeted with shouts of
+laughter. Quincy looked at them with astonishment, and had it not been
+for their familiar faces, which they had not tried to disguise, he would
+not have recognized them.
+
+Out of compliment to their guests, the Deacon and his wife had gone back
+to the days of their youth. Probably from some old chest in the garret
+each had resurrected a costume of fifty years before. They advanced into
+the room, smiling and bowing to the delighted spectators on either side.
+They went directly to Abner, and the latter bent over to hear what the
+Deacon whispered in his ear. The Deacon then went to Strout and
+whispered something to him.
+
+Strout nodded, and turning to the company said, "As it's now half past
+'leven and most time for honest folks to be abed and rogues a runnin',
+out of compliment to Miss Huldy's grandpa and grandma, who have honored
+us with their presence this evenin', we will close these festivities
+with a good old-fashioned heel and toe Virginia reel. Let 'er go, Abner,
+and keep her up till all the fiddle strings are busted."
+
+Like trained soldiers, they sprang to their places. Quincy and his
+partner took places near the end of the line. He explained to her that
+he had never danced a reel, but thought he could easily learn from
+seeing the others, and he told her that when their turn came she need
+not fear but that he would do his part.
+
+The Deacon and his wife led off, and their performance caused great
+enthusiasm. Sam Hill was not a good dancer, so he resigned Miss Tilly
+James to Professor Strout. Miss James was a superb dancer, and as Quincy
+looked at her his face showed his appreciation.
+
+[Illustration: "THE DEACON AND HIS WIFE LED OFF."]
+
+His partner saw the glance, and looking up to him said, "Don't you wish
+you could dance as well as that?"
+
+"I wish I could," said Quincy. "I have no doubt you can," he added,
+looking at his partner's rosy face.
+
+"Well," said she, "you do the best you can, and I'll do the same."
+
+Professor Strout and Tilly did finely, and their performance gained them
+an encore, which they granted. One by one the couples went under the
+arch of extended arms, and one by one they showed their Terpsichorean
+agility on the kitchen floor, over which Mandy Skinner had thoughtfully
+sprinkled a handful of house sand.
+
+At last came the turn of Quincy and his little partner, whose name was
+unknown to him. He observed the grace with which she went through the
+march, and when the dance came be wished he could have stood still and
+watched her. Instead, he entered with his whole soul into the dance, and
+at its conclusion he was astonished to hear the burst of applause and
+cheers that fell upon his ears.
+
+"Come along!" said his partner, and taking him by the hand she drew him
+back through the arch, and the dance was repeated.
+
+Three times in succession was this done in response to enthusiastic
+applause, and Quincy was beginning to think that he would soon fall in
+his tracks. He had no idea that any such fate would befall his partner,
+for she seemed equal to an indefinite number of repetitions.
+
+But, as has been said before, to all good things an end must come at
+last, and when the old-fashioned Connecticut clock on the mantelpiece
+clanged out the midnight hour, as if by magic a hush came over the
+company and the jollities came to an end. Then followed a rush for
+capes, and coats, and jackets, and shawls, and hats. Then came good-byes
+and good-nights, and then the girls all kissed Huldy and her mother,
+wished them long life and happiness, while their escorts stood quietly
+by thinking of the pleasant homeward trips, and knowing in their hearts
+that they should treasure more the pressure of the hand or the single
+good-night kiss yet to come than they did the surprise party kisses that
+had been theirs during the evening.
+
+Mrs. Mason and 'Zekiel had prepared Alice for her homeward trip. Quincy
+took occasion to seek out his partner in the reel to say good night, and
+as he shook hands with her he said, "Would you consider me rude if I
+asked your name and who taught you to dance?"
+
+"Oh! no," she replied; "my name is Bessie Chisholm. I teach the dancing
+school at Eastborough Centre, and Mr. Stiles always plays for me."
+
+"Is he going to see you home to-night?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Oh! no," said she; "I came with my brother. Here, Sylvester," cried
+she, and a smart-looking, country fellow, apparently about twenty-one
+years of age, came towards them. "I'm ready," said Bessie to him, and
+then, turning to Quincy, "Mr. Sawyer, make you acquainted with my
+brother, Sylvester Chisholm."
+
+"Ah, you know my name," said Quincy.
+
+"I guess everybody in Eastborough knows who you are," retorted she with
+a toss of her head, as she took her brother's arm and walked away.
+
+Hiram had brought 'round the Pettengill sleigh from the barn. 'Zekiel,
+Alice, Quincy, and Mandy were the last of the party to leave. Quincy
+took his old place beside Alice, while Mandy sat on the front seat with
+'Zekiel.
+
+It was a beautiful moonlight night and the ride home was a most
+enjoyable one.
+
+"I am sorry," said Quincy to Alice, "that you could not take part in
+more of the games. I enjoyed them very much."
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Mason kept me informed of your actions," said Alice with a
+laugh.
+
+Halfway to Hill's grocery they passed the Professor and Abner walking
+home to Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house. They called out, "Good night and
+pleasant dreams," and drove rapidly on. In the Square a number of the
+party had stopped to say good night again before taking the various
+roads that diverged from it, and another interchange of "Good nights"
+followed.
+
+When Strout and Abner reached the Square it was deserted. There was no
+light shining in the boarding house. The kerosene lamps and matches were
+on a table in the front entry. Strout lighted his lamp and went
+upstairs. Strout's room was one flight up, while Abner's was up two. As
+they reached Strout's room he said, "Come in, Abner, and warm up. Comin'
+out of that hot room into this cold air has given me a chill." He went
+to a closet and brought out a bottle, a small pitcher, and a couple of
+spoons. "Have some rum and molasses, nothin' better for a cold."
+
+They mixed their drinks in a couple of tumblers, which Strout found in
+the closet. Then he took a couple of cigars from his pocket and gave one
+to Abner. They drank and smoked for some time in silence.
+
+At last Abner said, "How are you satisfied with this evenin's
+perceedin's?"
+
+"Wall, all things considered," said Strout, "I think it was the most
+successful party ever given in this 'ere town, if I did do it."
+
+"That's so," responded Abner sententiously. "Warn't you a bit struck up
+when that city feller come in?"
+
+"Not a bit," said Strout. "You know when I come back, you see it was so
+cussed hot, yer know I said it was the heat, but I knew they wuz there.
+Mrs. Mason, told me."
+
+"Did she?" asked Abner, with wide-opened eyes. "I thought it was one on
+you."
+
+"When I went down to the road before the bugle was blown," said Strout,
+"Mrs. Mason told me they was there. You see, Huldy didn't suspect
+nothin' about the party and so she asked them over to tea. She sorter
+expected they would go right after tea, but they got singin' songs and
+tellin' stories, and Huldy saw they had come to stay."
+
+"But," said Abner, "that city feller must have known all about it
+aforehand or how could he git that cake and frozen stuff down from
+Bosting so quick?"
+
+"Didn't you say," said Strout, "that you seen them going over to
+Eastborough Centre about five o'clock?"
+
+"Yes," replied Abner, "but how did he know when it was? Some one must
+have told him, I guess."
+
+"There are times, Abner Stiles," exclaimed Strout, "when you are too
+almighty inquisitive."
+
+"Wall, I only wanted to know, so I could tell the truth when folks asked
+me," said Abner.
+
+"That's all right," said Strout. "Cuddent you guess who told him? 'Twas
+that Hiram Maxwell. I've been pumping him about the city chap, and of
+course, I've had to tell him somethin' for swaps. But to-morrow when I
+meet him I'll tell him I don't want anythin' more to do with a
+tittle-tattle tell-tale like him."
+
+"What d'ye think of that pome 'bout the bumblebee?" drawled Abner.
+
+"Oh, that was a put-up job," said Strout.
+
+"How could that be?" asked Abner, "when you took it out of your own
+box?"
+
+"Well," rejoined Strout, "he'll find I'm the wustest kind of a bumblebee
+if he stirs me up much more. When my dander's up a hornet's nest ain't a
+patch to me."
+
+"I kinder fancied," continued Abner, "that the reason he had them fancy
+boxes sent down was because he sorter thought our pound packages would
+be rather ornary."
+
+"I guess you've hit it 'bout right," remarked Strout; "them city swells
+would cheat their tailor so as to make a splurge and show how much money
+they've got. I guess he thought as how I'd never seen ice cream, but I
+showed him I knew all about it. I eat three sasserful myself."
+
+"I beat you on that," said Abner; "I eat a sasserful of each kind."
+
+As Abner finished speaking he emptied his glass and then reached forward
+for the bottle in order to replenish it. Strout's glass was also empty,
+and being much nearer to the bottle than Abner was, he had it in his
+possession before Abner could reach it. When he put it down again it was
+beyond his companion's reach. Abner turned some molasses into has
+tumbler, and then said, "Don't you think 'twas purty plucky of that city
+feller to come to our party to-night?"
+
+"No, I don't," said Strout, "he jest sneaked in with 'Zeke Pettengill
+and his sister. He'll find out that I'm no slouch here in Eastborough.
+When I marry the Deacon's daughter and git the Deacon's money, and am
+elected tax collector agin, and buy the grocery store, and I'm app'inted
+postmaster at Mason's Corner, he'll diskiver that it's harder fightin'
+facts like them than it is Bob Wood's fists. I kinder reckon there won't
+be anybody that won't take off their hats to me, and there won't be any
+doubts as to who runs this 'ere town. That city feller's health will
+improve right off, and he'll go up to Boston a wiser man than when he
+come down."
+
+"That's so," remarked Abner; and as he spoke he stood up as if to
+emphasize his words. Before he sat down, however, he reached across the
+table for the bottle, but again Strout was too quick for him.
+
+"I was only goin' to drink yer health an' success to yer," said Abner.
+
+"All right," said Strout, "make it half a glass and I'll jine yer."
+
+The two men clinked their glasses, drank, and smacked their lips.
+
+"If you don't go to bed now you won't git up till to-morrer," said the
+Professor.
+
+"Yer mean ter-day," chuckled Abner, as he got up and walked 'round to
+the other side of the table, where he had left his lamp.
+
+"I guess," remarked Strout, "I'll have some more fire. I ain't goin' to
+bed jest yet. I've got some heavy thinkin' to do."
+
+While he was upon his knees arranging the wood, starting up the embers
+with the bellows, Abner reached across the table and got possession of
+his tumbler, from which he had fortunately removed the spoon. Grasping
+the bottle he filled it to the brim and tossed it down in three big
+swallows. As he replaced the tumbler on the table, Strout turned round.
+
+"There was 'bout a spoonful left in the bottom of my tumbler," said
+Abner, apologetically. "Them that drinks last drinks best," said he, as
+he took up his lamp. "I guess that nightcap won't hurt me," he muttered
+to himself as he stumbled up the flight of stairs that led to his room.
+
+The fire burned brightly and Strout resumed his seat and drew the bottle
+towards him. He lifted it up and looked at it.
+
+"The skunk!" said he half aloud; "a man that'll steal rum will hook
+money next. Wall, it won't be many days before that city chap will buy
+his return ticket to Boston. Then I shan't have any further use for
+Abner. Let me see," he soliloquized, "what I've got to do to-morrer? Git
+the Deacon's money at ten, propose to Huldy 'bout half past, git home to
+dinner at twelve, buy the grocery store 'bout quarter-past three;
+that'll be a pretty good day's work!"
+
+Then the Professor mixed up a nightcap for himself and was soon sleeping
+soundly, regardless of the broad smile upon the face of the Man in the
+Moon, who looked down upon the town with an expression that seemed to
+indicate that he considered himself the biggest man in it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+TOWN POLITICS.
+
+
+At the table next morning the conversation was all about the surprise
+party. The Cobb twins declared that without exception it was the best
+party that had ever been given at Mason's Corner, to their knowledge.
+
+After breakfast Quincy told Ezekiel that he was going over to
+Eastborough Centre that morning; in fact, he should like the single
+horse and team for the next three days, as he had considerable business
+to attend to.
+
+He drove first to the office of the express company; but to his great
+disappointment he was informed that no package had arrived for him on
+the morning train. Thinking that possibly some explanation of the
+failure of the bank to comply with his wishes might have been sent by
+mail, he went to the post office; there he found a letter from the
+cashier of his bank, informing him that he had taken the liberty to send
+him enclosed, instead of the five hundred dollars in bills, his own
+check certified for that amount, and stated that the local bank would
+undoubtedly cash the same for him.
+
+As he turned to leave the post office he met Sylvester Chisholm. Quincy
+greeted the young man pleasantly, and asked him if he were in business
+at the Centre. Sylvester replied that he was the compositor and local
+newsman on the "Eastborough Express," a weekly newspaper issued every
+Friday. The bank being located in the same building, Quincy drove him
+over. Sylvester asked Quincy if he would not step in and look at their
+office. Quincy did so. A man about thirty years of age arose from a
+chair and stepped forward as they entered, saying, "Hello, Chisholm, I
+have been waiting nearly half an hour for you."
+
+"Mr. Appleby, Mr. Sawyer," said Sylvester, introducing the two men.
+
+"Mr. Appleby occupies a similar position on the 'Montrose Messenger' to
+the one that I hold on the 'Eastborough Express,'" said Sylvester, by
+way of explanation to Quincy. "We exchange items; that is, he supplies
+me with items relating to Montrose that are supposed to be interesting
+to the inhabitants of Eastborough, and I return the compliment. Here are
+your items," said Sylvester, passing an envelope to Mr. Appleby.
+
+Mr. Appleby seemed to be in great haste, and with a short "Good morning"
+left the office.
+
+"He is a great friend of Professor Strout's," remarked Sylvester.
+
+"You speak as though you were not," said Quincy.
+
+"Well," replied Sylvester, "I used to think a good deal more of him at
+one time than I do now, not on account of anything that he has done to
+me, but I do not think he has treated one of my dearest friends just
+right. Did you hear anything, Mr. Sawyer, about his being engaged or
+likely to be engaged to Deacon Mason's daughter, Huldy?"
+
+Quincy looked at Sylvester and then laughed outright.
+
+"No, I haven't heard of any such thing," he replied, "and considering
+certain information that I have in my mind and which I know to be
+correct, I do not think I ever shall."
+
+"Will you tell me what that information is?" asked Sylvester.
+
+"Well, perhaps I will," said Quincy, "if you will inform me why you wish
+to know."
+
+"Well, the fact is," remarked Sylvester, "that for quite a while
+Professor Strout and my sister Bessie, whom you saw last night at the
+party and with whom you danced, kept company together, and everybody
+over here to the Centre thought that they would be engaged and get
+married one of these days; but since that concert at the Town Hall,
+where you sang, a change of mind seems to have come over the Professor,
+and he has not seen my sister except when they met by accident. She
+thinks a good deal of him still, and although the man has done me no
+harm personally, of course I do not feel very good toward the fellow who
+makes my sister feel unhappy."
+
+"Now," said Quincy, "what I am going to say I am going to tell you for
+your personal benefit and not for publication. I happen to know that
+Miss Huldy Mason is engaged definitely to Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill, and
+has been for some time. Now, promise me not to put that in your paper."
+
+"I promise," said Sylvester, "unless I obtain the same information from
+some other source."
+
+"All right," rejoined Quincy, and shaking hands with the young man he
+crossed the passageway and went into the bank.
+
+He presented his certified check, and the five hundred dollars in bills
+were passed to him, and he placed them in his inside coat pocket. He was
+turning to leave the bank when he met Deacon Mason just entering.
+
+"Ah, Deacon," said he, "have you come to draw some money? I think I have
+just taken all the bank bills they have on hand."
+
+"I hope not," said the Deacon, "I kinder promised some one that I'd be
+on hand about noon to-day with five hundred dollars that he wants to use
+on a business matter this afternoon."
+
+Quincy took the Deacon by the arm and pulled him one side, out of
+hearing of any other person in the room.
+
+"Say, Deacon Mason, I am going to ask you a question, which, of course,
+you can answer or not, as you see fit; but if this business matter turns
+out to be what I think it is, I may be able to save you considerable
+trouble."
+
+"I don't think you would ask me any question that I ought not to
+answer," replied the Deacon, glancing up at Quincy with a sly look in
+his eye and a slight smile on his face.
+
+"Well," continued Quincy, "are you going to let Strout have that money
+to pay down on account of the grocery store?"
+
+"Why, yes," said the Deacon, "I guess you have hit it about right.
+Strout seemed to think that there warn't any doubt but what he could get
+the store, but as he said the town clerk was willing to endorse his
+note, I came over here last night just on purpose to find that out. I
+kinder thought I was perfectly safe in letting him have the money."
+
+"Oh, you would be all right, Deacon, financially, if the town clerk or
+any other good man endorsed his note; but you see Strout won't need the
+money. I happen to know of another man that is going to bid on that
+grocery store. How much money do you think Strout can command; how high
+will he bid?"
+
+"Well, he told me," the Deacon answered, "that he had parties that would
+back him up to the extent of two thousand dollars, and this five hundred
+dollars that I was goin' to lend him would make twenty-five hundred, and
+he had sort o' figured that the whole place, including the land and
+buildings and stock, warn't wuth any more than that, and that Benoni
+Hill would be mighty glad to get such a good offer."
+
+"That's all right," said Quincy, "but I happen to know a man that's
+going to bid on that grocery store and he will have it if he has to bid
+as high as five thousand dollars, and he is ready to put down the solid
+cash for it without any notes."
+
+The Deacon glanced up at Quincy, and the sly look in his eye was more
+pronounced than ever, while the smile on his face very much resembled a
+grin.
+
+"I guess it must be some outside feller that is a-going to buy it
+then," said the Deacon, "for I don't believe there is a man in
+Eastborough that would put up five thousand dollars in cold cash for
+that grocery store, unless he considered that he was paying for
+something besides groceries when he bought it."
+
+"Well, I don't think, Deacon," continued Quincy, "that we need go
+further into particulars; I think we understand each other; all is, you
+come up to the auction this afternoon, and if the place is knocked down
+to Strout I will let you have the five hundred dollars that I have here
+in my pocket; besides, it would have been poor business policy for you
+to let him have the money on that note before the sale; for if the store
+was not sold to him you could not get back your money until the note
+became due."
+
+"That's so," assented the Deacon. "Well, I've got to get home, cuz I
+promised to meet him by twelve o'clock."
+
+"So have I," said Quincy, "for I have got to see the man who is going to
+buy the grocery store and fix up a few business matters with him."
+
+Both men left the bank and got into their respective teams, which were
+standing in front of the building.
+
+"Which road are you going, Deacon?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Waal, I guess, for appearance's sake, Mr. Sawyer, you better go on the
+straight road, while I'll take the curved one. Yer know the curved one
+leads right up to my barn door."
+
+"Yes, I know," said Quincy, "I found that out last night;" and the two
+men parted.
+
+Quincy made quick time on his homeward trip. As he neared the Pettengill
+house he saw Cobb's twins and Hiram standing in front of the barn. He
+drove up and threw the reins to Bill Cobb, saying, "I shall want the
+team again right after dinner;" and turning to Hiram, be said, "Come
+down to Jacob's Parlor, I want to have a little talk with you."
+
+They entered the large wood shed that Ezekiel's father had called by
+the quaint name just referred to, and took their old seats, Quincy in
+the armchair and Hiram on the chopping block facing him. Hiram looked
+towards the stove and Quincy said, "It is not very cold this morning, I
+don't think we shall need a fire; besides, what I have got to say will
+take but a short time. Now, young man," continued he, "how old did you
+say you were?"
+
+"I am about thirty," replied Hiram.
+
+"You are about thirty?" repeated Quincy, "and yet you are satisfied to
+stay with Deacon Mason and do his odd jobs for about ten dollars a month
+and your board, I suppose."
+
+"Well, he isn't a mean man," said Hiram, "he gives me ten dollars a
+month and my board, and two suits of clothes a year, including shoes and
+hats."
+
+"Have you no ambition to do any better?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Ambition?" cried Hiram, "why I'm full of it. I've thought of more than
+a dozen different kinds of business that I would like to go into and
+work day and night to make my fortune, but what can a feller do if he
+hasn't any capital and hasn't got any backer?"
+
+"Well, the best thing that you can do, Hiram, is to find a partner;
+that's what people do when they have no money; they look around and find
+somebody who has."
+
+"You mean," said Hiram, "that I've got to look 'round and find some one
+who has got some money, who's willin' to let me have part of it. There's
+lots of fellers in Eastborough that have got money, but they hang to it
+tighter'n the bark to a tree."
+
+"And yet," said Quincy, "a man like Obadiah Strout can go around this
+town and get parties to back him up to the extent of twenty-five hundred
+dollars."
+
+"Yes, I know," answered Hiram, "but he couldn't do that if the parties
+didn't have a mortgage on the place, and o' course if Strout can't keep
+up his payments they'll grab the store and get the hull business. I
+happen to know that one of the parties that's goin' to put his name on
+one of Strout's notes said quietly to another party that told a feller
+that I heerd it from that it wouldn't be more'n a year afore he'd be
+runnin' that grocery store himself."
+
+"Well, Hiram Maxwell, I've got some money that I am not using just now.
+You know that I've got quite a large account to settle with that
+Professor Strout, and I can afford to pay pretty handsomely to get even
+with him. Now do you think if you had that grocery store that you could
+make a success of it?"
+
+"Could I?" cried Hiram, "waal, I know I could. I know every man, woman,
+and child in this town, and there isn't one of them that's got anythin'
+agin me that I knows of."
+
+"I'd back you up," said Quincy, "but I've got something against you, and
+I will not agree to put my money into that store until you explain to me
+something that you told me several weeks ago. I don't say but that you
+told me the truth as far as it went, but you didn't tell me the whole
+truth, and that's what I find fault with you for."
+
+Hiram's eyes had dilated, and he looked at Quincy with a wild glance of
+astonishment. Could he believe his ears? Here was this young man, a
+millionaire's son, saying that he would have backed him up in business
+but for the fact that he had told him a wrong story. Hiram scratched his
+head and looked perplexed.
+
+"True as I live, Mr. Sawyer, I don't remember ever tellin' you a lie
+since I've known yer. I may have added a little somethin' to some of my
+stories that I have brought inter yer, jest to make them a little more
+interesting and p'r'aps ter satisfy a little pussonal spite that I might
+have agin some o' the parties that I was tellin' yer about, but I know
+as well's I'm standin' here that I never told yer nothin' in the way of
+a lie to work yer any injury. You've alwus treated me white, and if
+there's one thing that Mandy Skinner says she can't abear, it's a man
+that tells lies."
+
+"Then," remarked Quincy with a smile, "you think a good deal of Miss
+Mandy Skinner's opinion?"
+
+"I ain't never seen any girl whose opinion I think more of," answered
+Hiram.
+
+"Did you ever see any girl that you thought more of?" continued Quincy.
+
+"Waal, I guess it's an open secret 'round town," said Hiram, "that I'd
+marry her quicker'n lightnin', if she'd have me."
+
+"Well, why won't she have you?" persisted Quincy.
+
+"That's easy to answer," said Hiram. "You stated the situation purty
+plainly yourself when you counted up my income, ten dollars a month and
+my food and two suits of clothes. How could I pervide for Mandy out o'
+that?"
+
+"Well," asked Quincy, "supposing I bought that grocery store for you and
+you got along well and made money. Do you think Mandy would consent to
+become Mrs. Maxwell?"
+
+"I can't say for sure, Mr. Sawyer, but I think Miss Mandy Skinner would
+be at a loss for any good reason for refusin' me, in case what you jest
+talked about come to pass," said Hiram.
+
+"Now," proceeded Quincy, "we will settle that little matter that I
+referred to a short time ago. You remember you were telling me your war
+experiences. You said you were never shot, but that you were hit with a
+fence rail at the battle of Cedar Mountain."
+
+"Waal, I guess if you git my war record you will find I didn't tell yer
+any lie about that."
+
+"Well, no," said Quincy, "that's all right; but why didn't you tell me
+that on one occasion, when the captain of your company was shot down,
+together with half the attacking force, that you took his body on your
+back and bore him off the field, at the same time sounding the retreat
+with your bugle? Why didn't you tell me that on two separate occasions,
+when the color sergeants of your company were shot and the flag fell
+from their grasp, that you took the flag and bore it forward, sounding
+the charge, until you were relieved of your double duty? In other words,
+when there were so many good things that you could say for yourself, why
+didn't you say them?"
+
+Hiram thought for a moment and then he said, "Waal, I didn't think that
+I had any right to interduce outside matters not connected with what we
+were talkin' about. You asked me if I'd ever been shot, and I told yer
+how I got hit; but I didn't consider the luggin' the cap'n off the field
+or h'istin' Old Glory, when there wasn't anybody else to attend to it
+jest that minute, come under the head of bein' shot."
+
+Quincy laughed outright and extended his hand, which Hiram took. Quincy
+gave it a hearty shake and said, "Hiram, I think you're all right. I've
+decided to buy that grocery store for you for two reasons. The first is
+that you have served me well; Mandy has been very kind and attentive to
+me, and I want to see you both prosper and be happy. My second reason
+relates to the Professor, and, of course, does not need any explanation,
+so far as you're concerned. Now, you go up to the house, put on your
+best suit of clothes, tell the Deacon that I want your company this
+afternoon; I will drive up your way about two o'clock, and we will go to
+the auction."
+
+While these events were taking place, others, perhaps equally
+interesting, were transpiring in another part of Mason's Corner. The
+Professor had not arisen until late, but ten o'clock found him dressed
+in his best and surveying his personal appearance with a pleased
+expression. He felt that this was a day big with the fate of Professor
+Strout and Mason's Corner!
+
+When he left Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house he went straight to Deacon
+Mason's.
+
+"Is the Deacon in?" he asked, as pleasant-faced Mrs. Mason opened the
+door.
+
+"No, he has gone over to the Centre. He said he'd got to go to the bank
+to get some money for somebody, but that he'd be back 'tween 'leven and
+twelve."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said Strout, stepping inside the door; "is Miss
+Huldy in?"
+
+"Yes, she's in the parlor; she went in to practise on her music lesson,
+but I guess she's reading a book instead, for I haven't heard the piano
+since she went in half an hour ago."
+
+"Waal, I'll step in and have a little chat with her whilst I'm waiting
+for the Deacon," said the Professor; "but you just let me know as soon
+as the Deacon comes, won't you, Mrs. Mason?"
+
+Mrs. Mason replied that she would, and the Professor opened the parlor
+door and stepped in.
+
+"Oh, good morning, Miss Mason," said the Professor; "I hope I see you
+enjoying your usual good health after last evening's excitement."
+
+Huldy arose and shook hands with the Professor.
+
+"Oh, yes," said she, "I got up a little late this morning, but I never
+felt better in my life. It was very kind of you, Mr. Strout, and of my
+other friends, to show your appreciation in such a pleasant manner, and
+I shall never forget your kindness."
+
+"Waal, you know, I've always taken a great interest in you, Miss Mason."
+
+"I know you have in my singing," answered Huldy, "and I know that I have
+improved a great deal since you have been giving me lessons."
+
+"But I don't refer wholly to your singin'," said the Professor.
+
+"Oh, you mean my playing," remarked Huldy. "Well, I don't know that I
+shall ever be a brilliant performer on the piano, but I must acknowledge
+that you have been the cause of my improving in that respect also."
+
+"Waal, I don't mean," continued the Professor, "jest your singin' and
+your playin'. I've been interested in you as a whole."
+
+"I don't exactly see what you mean by that, Mr. Strout, unless you mean
+my ability as a housekeeper. I am afraid if you ask my mother, she will
+not give me a very flattering recommendation."
+
+"Oh, you know enough about housekeepin' to satisfy me," said the
+Professor.
+
+Huldy by this time divined what was on the Professor's mind; in fact,
+she had known it for some time, but had assured herself that he would
+never have the courage to put his hints, and suggestions, and allusions,
+into an actual declaration. So she replied with some asperity, "What
+made you think I was looking for a situation as housekeeper?"
+
+"Oh, nothin'," said he, "I wasn't thinkin' anythin' about what I thought
+you thought, but I was a-thinkin' about somethin' that I thought
+myself."
+
+Huldy looked up inquiringly.
+
+"What would you say," asked the Professor, "if I told you that I thought
+of gettin' married?"
+
+"Well," replied Huldy, "I think my first question would be, 'have you
+asked her?'"
+
+"No, I haven't yet," said the Professor.
+
+"Well, then, my advice to you," continued Huldy, "is don't delay; if you
+do perhaps some other fellow may ask her first, and she may consent, not
+knowing that you think so much of her."
+
+"Well, I've thought of that," said the Professor. "I guess you're right.
+What would you say," continued he, "if I told you that I had asked her?"
+
+"Well, I should say," answered Huldy, "that you told me only a minute or
+two ago that you hadn't."
+
+"Well, I hadn't then," said the Professor.
+
+"I don't really see how you have had any chance to ask her, as you say
+you have," remarked Huldy, "in the short time that has passed since you
+said you hadn't. I am not very quick at seeing a joke, Professor, but
+p'raps I can understand what you mean, if you will tell me when you
+asked her, and where you asked her to marry you."
+
+"Just now! Right here!" cried the Professor; and before Huldy could
+interpose he had arisen from his chair and had fallen on his knees
+before her.
+
+Huldy looked at him with a startled expression, then as the whole matter
+dawned upon her she burst into a loud laugh. The Professor looked up
+with a grieved expression on his face. Huldy became grave instantly.
+
+"I wasn't laughing at you, Professor. I'm sure I'm grateful for your
+esteem and friendship, but it never entered my head till this moment
+that you had any idea of asking me to be your wife. What made you think
+such a thing possible?"
+
+The Professor was quite portly, and it was with some little difficulty
+that he regained his feet, and his face was rather red with the exertion
+when he had succeeded.
+
+"Well, you see," said he, "I never thought much about it till that city
+feller came down here to board; then the whole town knew that you and
+'Zeke Pettengill had had a fallin' out, and then by and by that city
+feller who was boardin' with your folks went away, and I kinder thought
+that as you didn't have any steady feller--"
+
+Huldy broke in,--"You thought I was in the market again and that your
+chances were as good as those of any one else?"
+
+"Yes, that's jest it," said the Professor. "You put it jest as I would
+have said it, if you hadn't said it fust."
+
+"Well, really, Professor, I can't understand what gave you and the whole
+town the idea that there was any falling out between Mr. Pettengill and
+myself. We have grown up together, we have always loved each other very
+much, and we have been engaged to be married--"
+
+"Since when?" broke in the Professor, excitedly.
+
+"Since the day before I last engaged you to give me music lessons,"
+replied Huldy.
+
+What the Professor would have said in reply to this will never be known;
+for at that moment Mrs. Mason opened the door, and looking in, said,
+"The Deacon's come."
+
+Strout grasped his hat, and with a hurried bow and "Good morning" to
+Huldy, left the room, closing the door behind him. It must be said for
+the Professor that he bore defeat with great equanimity, and when he
+reached the great kitchen and shook hands with Deacon Mason, who had
+just come in from the barn, the casual observer would have noticed
+nothing peculiar in his expression.
+
+"Waal, Deacon," said he in a low tone, "did you git the money?"
+
+"Oh, I've 'ranged 'bout the money," said the Deacon; "but I had a talk
+with my lawyer, and he said it wasn't good bizness for me to pay over
+the five hundred dollars till the store was actually knocked down to
+you. Here's that note of yourn that the town clerk endorsed las' night.
+Neow, when the auctioneer says the store is yourn I'll give yer the five
+hundred dollars and take the note. I'll be up to the auction by
+half-past two, so you needn't worry, it'll be jest the same as though
+yer had the money in yer hand."
+
+Strout looked a little disturbed; but thinking the matter over quickly,
+he decided that he had nothing to gain by arguing the question with the
+Deacon; so saying, "Be sure and be on hand, Deacon, for it's a sure
+thing my gettin' that store, if I have the cash to pay down," he left
+the house.
+
+He went up the hill and turned the corner on the way back to his
+boarding house. When he got out of sight of the Deacon's house he
+stopped, clenched his hands, shut his teeth firmly together and stamped
+his foot on the ground; then he ejaculated in a savage whisper, "Women
+are wussern catamounts; you know which way a catamount's goin' to jump.
+I wonder whether she was honest about that, or whether she's been
+foolin' me all this time; she'll be a sorry girl when I git that store
+and 'lected tax collector, and git app'inted postmaster. I've got three
+tricks left, ef I have lost two. I wonder who it was put that idea into
+the Deacon's head not ter let me have thet money till the sale was over.
+I bet a dollar it wuz thet city feller. Abner says thet he met Appleby
+on his way back to Montrose, and he told him thet he saw thet city
+feller and the Deacon drive off tergether from front o' the bank. Oh!
+nonsense, what would the son of a millionaire want of a grocery store in
+a little country town like this?" and he went into his boarding house to
+dinner.
+
+A few moments after two o'clock Strout could restrain his impatience no
+longer, and leaving his boarding house he walked over to the grocery
+store. Quite a number of the Mason's Corner people were gathered in the
+Square, for to them an auction sale was as good as a show. Quincy had
+not arrived, and the Professor tried to quiet his nerves by walking up
+and down the platform and smoking a cigar. The crowd gradually
+increased, quite a number coming in teams from Montrose and from
+Eastborough Centre. One of the teams from Montrose brought the
+auctioneer, Mr. Beers, with whom Strout was acquainted. He gave the
+auctioneer a cigar, and they walked up and down the platform smoking and
+talking about everything else but the auction sale. It was a matter of
+professional dignity with Mr. Barnabas Beers, auctioneer, not to be on
+too friendly terms with bidders before an auction. He had found that it
+had detracted from his importance and had lowered bids, if he allowed
+would be purchasers to converse with him concerning the articles to be
+sold. It was their business, he maintained in a heated argument one
+evening in the hotel at Montrose, to find out by personal inspection the
+condition and value of what was to be sold, and it was his business, he
+said, to know as little about it as possible, for the less he knew the
+less it would interfere with his descriptive powers when, hammer in
+hand, he took his position on the bench. Having established a
+professional standing, Barnabas Beers was not a man to step down, and
+though the Professor, after a while, endeavored to extract some
+information from the auctioneer as to whether there was likely to be
+many bidders, he finally gave it up in despair, for he found Mr. Beers
+as uncommunicative as a hitching post, as he afterwards told Abner
+Stiles.
+
+About half-past two Deacon Mason drove into the Square, and the
+Professor went to meet him, and shook hands with him. In a short time
+his other backers, who had agreed to endorse his notes to the amount of
+two thousand dollars, arrived upon the scene, and he took occasion to
+welcome them in a manner that could not escape the attention of the
+crowd. It was now ten minutes of three, and the auctioneer stepped upon
+the temporary platform that had been erected for him, and bringing his
+hammer down upon the head of a barrel that had been placed in front of
+him, he read, in a loud voice, which reached every portion of the
+Square, the printed notice that for several weeks had hung upon the
+fences, sheds, and trees of Mason's Corner, Eastborough Centre, West
+Eastborough, and Montrose.
+
+It was now three o'clock, for that hour was rung out by the bell on the
+Rev. Caleb Howe's church. The auctioneer prefaced his inquiry for bids
+by the usual grandiloquence in use by members of that fraternity,
+closing his oration with that often-heard remark, "How much am I
+offered?"
+
+The Professor, who was standing by the side of Deacon Mason's team,
+called out in a loud voice, "Fifteen hundred!"
+
+"Well, I'll take that just for a starter," said the auctioneer, "but of
+course no sane man not fitted to be the inmate of an idiotic asylum
+thinks that this fine piece of ground, this long-built and
+long-established grocery store, filled to overflowing with all the
+necessities and delicacies of the season, a store which has been in
+successful operation for nearly forty years, and of which the good will
+is worth a good deal more than the sum just bid, will be sold for any
+such preposterous figure! Gentlemen, I am listening."
+
+Suddenly a voice from the rear of the crowd called out, "T-o-o-t-o to
+to-oo-two thousand!"
+
+As if by magic, every head was turned, for the majority of those in the
+crowd recognized the voice at once. There was but one man in Mason's
+Corner who stammered, and that man was Hiram Maxwell.
+
+They turned, and all saw seated in the Pettengill team Hiram Maxwell,
+and beside him sat Mr. Sawyer from Boston.
+
+"Oh, that's more like it," said the auctioneer. "Competition is the life
+of trade, and is particularly pleasing to an auctioneer. The first
+gentleman who bid now sees that there is another gentleman who has a
+better knowledge of the value of this fine property than he has evinced
+up to the present moment. There is still an opportunity for him to see
+the error of his ways, and put himself on record as being an observing
+and intelligent person."
+
+All eyes were turned upon Strout at these words from the auctioneer; his
+face reddened, and he called out, "Twenty-five hundred!"
+
+"Still better," cried the auctioneer; "the gentleman, as I supposed, has
+shown that he is a person of discernment; he did not imagine that I was
+engaged simply to make a present of this fine establishment to any one
+who would offer any sum that suited his convenience for it. He knew as
+well as I did that there would be a sharp contest to secure this fine
+property. Now, gentlemen, I am offered twenty-five hundred, twenty-five
+hundred I am offered, twenty-five hundred--"
+
+Again a voice was heard from the team on the outer limits of the crowd,
+"Twenty-five fifty!"
+
+The crowd again turned their gaze upon Strout; the Professor was not an
+extravagant man, and he had saved a little money. He had in his pocket
+at the time a little over a hundred dollars; he would not put it in the
+bank, for, he argued, if he did everybody in town would know how much
+money he had; so he called out, "Twenty-six hundred!"
+
+"Ah, gentlemen," continued the auctioneer, "let me thank you for the
+keen appreciation that you show of a good thing. When I looked this
+property over I said to myself, the bidders will tumble over themselves
+to secure this fine property'; and I have not been disappointed."
+
+Again the faces of the crowd were turned towards the team in which sat
+Quincy and Hiram. Hiram stood up in the team, and masking a horn with
+his hands, shouted at the top of his voice, for the time overcoming his
+propensity to stammer, "Twenty-seven hundred!"
+
+"Better! still better!" cried the auctioneer; "we are now approaching
+the figure that I had placed on this property, and my judgment is
+usually correct. I am offered twenty-seven hundred, twenty-seven
+hundred; who will go one hundred better?"
+
+At this moment Abner Stiles, who had been watching the proceedings with
+eyes distended and mouth wide open, went up to Strout and whispered
+something in his ear. Strout's face brightened, he grasped Abner's hand
+and shook it warmly, then turning towards the auctioneer cried out,
+"Twenty-eight hundred!"
+
+By this time the crowd was getting excited. To them it was a battle
+royal; nothing of the kind had ever been seen at Mason's Corner before.
+A great many in the crowd were friends of Strout's, and admired his
+pluck in standing out so well. They had seen at a glance that Abner
+Stiles had offered to help Strout.
+
+Again the auctioneer called out in his parrot-like tone, "Twenty-eight
+hundred! I am offered twenty-eight hundred!"
+
+And again Hiram put his hands to his mouth, and his voice was heard over
+the Square as he said, "Three thousand!"
+
+"Now, gentlemen," continued the auctioneer, "I am proud to be with you.
+When it is my misfortune to stand up before a company, the members of
+which have no appreciation of the value of the property to be sold, I
+often wish myself at home; but, as I said before, on this occasion I am
+proud to be with you, for a sum approximating to the true value of the
+property offered for sale has been bidden. I am offered three
+thousand--three thousand--three thousand--going at three thousand! Did I
+hear a bid? No, it must have been the wind whistling through the trees."
+At this sally a laugh came up from the crowd. "Going at three
+thousand--going--going--going--gone at three thousand to--"
+
+"Mr. Hiram Maxwell!" came from the score of voices.
+
+"Gone at three thousand to Mr. Hiram Maxwell!" said the auctioneer, as
+he brought down his hammer heavily upon the barrel head with such force
+that it fell in, and, losing his hold upon the hammer, that dropped in
+also. This slight accident caused a great laugh among the crowd.
+
+The auctioneer continued, "According to the terms of the sale, five
+hundred dollars in cash must be paid down to bind the bargain, and the
+balance must be paid within three days in endorsed notes satisfactory to
+the present owner."
+
+Quincy and Hiram alighted from the Pettengill team and advanced towards
+the auctioneer. Reaching the platform, Quincy took from his pocket a
+large wallet and passed a pile of bills to the auctioneer.
+
+"Make out a receipt, please," he said to Mr. Beers, "in the name of Mr.
+Hiram Maxwell; the notes will be made out by him and endorsed by me. If
+you will give a discount of six per cent, Mr. Maxwell will pay the
+entire sum in cash within ten days; whichever proposition is accepted
+by Mr. Hill will be satisfactory to Mr. Maxwell."
+
+The show was over and the company began to disperse. Deacon Mason nodded
+to Strout and turned his horse's head homeward. While Quincy and Hiram
+were settling their business matters with the auctioneer, everybody had
+left the Square with the exception of a few loungers about the platform
+of the grocery store, and Strout and Abner, who stood near the big tree
+in the centre of the Square, talking earnestly to each other.
+
+The auctioneer, together with Quincy and Hiram, entered the store to
+talk over business matters with Mr. Hill and his son. Mr. Hill argued
+that Mr. Sawyer was good for any sum, and he would just as soon have the
+notes; in fact, he would prefer to have them, rather than make any
+discount.
+
+This matter being adjusted, Mr. Hill treated the party to some of his
+best cigars, which he kept under the counter in a private box, and when
+Quincy and Hiram came out and took their seats in the team, they looked
+about the Square and found that the Professor and his best friend were
+not in sight.
+
+The next morning at about nine o'clock, Abbott Smith arrived at
+Pettengill's, having with him Mr. Wallace Stackpole. Quincy was ready
+for the trip, and they started immediately for Eastborough Centre. On
+the way Quincy had plenty of time for conversation with Mr. Stackpole.
+The latter gave a true account of the cause that had led to his losing
+his election as tax collector at the town meeting a year before. He had
+been taken sick on the train while coming from Boston, and a kind
+passenger had given him a drink of brandy. He acknowledged that he took
+too much, and that he really was unable to walk when he reached the
+station at Eastborough Centre; but he said that he was not a drinking
+man, and would not have taken the brandy if he had not been sick. They
+reached Eastborough Centre in due season, but made no stop, continuing
+on to West Eastborough to the home of Abbott Smith's father.
+
+Here Quincy was introduced to 'Bias Smith, and found that what had been
+said about him was not overstated. He was a tall, heavily-built man,
+with a hard, rugged face, but with a pleasant and powerful countenance,
+and, in the course of conversation, ran the whole gamut of oratorical
+expression. He was what New England country towns have so often
+produced--a natural-born orator. In addition he was an up-to-date man.
+He was well read in history, and kept a close eye on current political
+events, including not only local matters, but State and National affairs
+as well.
+
+Quincy gave him Strout's war record that he had obtained from the
+Adjutant-General's office, and it was read over and compared with that
+of Wallace Stackpole, which was also in 'Bias Smith's possession. Mr.
+Stackpole had obtained from the town clerk a statement of taxes due and
+collected for the past twenty years, and this was also delivered to Mr.
+Smith. Quincy confided to Mr. Smith several matters that he wished
+attended to in town meeting, and the latter agreed to present them, as
+requested.
+
+It was finally settled that 'Bias Smith and Mr. Stackpole should come
+over to Mason's Corner the following Saturday and see if Deacon Mason
+would agree to act as moderator at the annual town meeting on the
+following Monday, the warrants for same having already been posted.
+
+When Quincy reached home he found Hiram waiting for him. They went in to
+Jacob's Parlor and took their accustomed seats.
+
+"Any news?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Not a word," said Hiram, "neither Strout or Abner have been seen on the
+street sence the sale wuz over, but Strout has got hold of it in some
+way that Huldy's engaged to 'Zeke Pettengill, and it's all over town."
+
+At that moment Ezekiel opened the door and stepped into the shed. There
+was a roguish twinkle in his eye and a smile about his lips as he
+advanced towards Quincy.
+
+"Waal, the cat's out o' the bag," said he to Quincy.
+
+"Yes, Hiram was just telling me that Strout got hold of it in some way."
+
+"Yaas," said Ezekiel, "he got hold of it in the most direct way that he
+possibly could."
+
+"How's that," asked Quincy, "did Miss Mason tell him?"
+
+"Yaas," said Ezekiel, "he seemed to want a satisfactory reason why she
+couldn't marry him, and it sorter seemed to her that the best reason
+that she could give him was that she was engaged to marry me."
+
+Hiram nearly lost his seat on the chopping block while expressing his
+delight, and on Quincy's face there was a look of quiet satisfaction
+that indicated that he was quite well satisfied with the present
+condition of affairs.
+
+"By the way, Hiram," said Quincy, "I believe you told me once that Mrs.
+Hawkins, who keeps the house where the Professor boards, is Mandy
+Skinner's mother."
+
+"Yaas," said Hiram, "Mandy's father died and her mother married Jonas
+Hawkins. He wasn't much account afore he was married, but I understand
+that he has turned out to be a rale handy man 'round the boardin' house.
+Mrs. Hawkins's a mighty smart woman, and she knew just what kind of a
+man she wanted."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I want you to tell Mandy to see her mother as soon
+as she can, and engage the best room that she has left in the house for
+a gentleman that I expect down here from Boston next Monday night.
+Here's ten dollars, and have Mandy tell her that this is her week's pay
+in advance for room and board, counting from to-day."
+
+"Waal, I don't believe she'll take it," said Hiram; "she's a mighty
+smart woman and mighty clus in money matters, but she's no skin, and I
+don't believe she'll take ten dollars for one week's board and room."
+
+"Well, if she won't take it," remarked Quincy, "Mandy may have the
+balance of it for her trouble. The man wants the room, and he is able to
+pay for it."
+
+Then Quincy and Ezekiel went into the house for supper.
+
+The next morning Quincy found that Uncle Ike had not forgotten his
+promise, for he was on hand promptly, dressed for a trip to Eastborough
+Centre. This time they took the carryall and two horses, and Uncle Ike
+sat on the front seat with Quincy.
+
+They reached Eastborough Centre and found Dr. Tillotson awaiting them.
+The return home was quickly made and Uncle Ike took the doctor to the
+parlor. Then he went to Alice's room, and Quincy heard them descend the
+stairs. The conversation lasted for a full hour, and Quincy sat in his
+room thinking and hoping for the best. Suddenly he was startled from his
+reveries by a rap upon the door, and Uncle Ike said the doctor was
+ready. Quincy drove him back to Eastborough Centre, and on the way the
+doctor gave him his diagnosis of the case and his proposed treatment. He
+said it would not be necessary for him to see her again for three weeks,
+or until the medicine that he had left for her was gone. He would come
+down again at a day's notice from Quincy.
+
+On his return Mandy told him that Miss Alice was in the parlor and would
+like to see him. As he entered the room she recognized his footstep, and
+starting to her feet turned towards him. He advanced to meet her and
+took both her hands in his.
+
+"How can I thank you, my good friend," said she, "for the interest that
+you have taken in me, and how can I repay you for the money that you
+have spent?"
+
+Quincy was at first disposed to deny his connection with the matter, but
+thinking that Uncle Ike must have told of it, he said, "I don't think it
+was quite fair for Uncle Ike, after promising to keep silent!"
+
+"It was not Uncle Ike's fault," broke in Alice; "it was nobody's fault.
+Nobody had told the doctor that there was any secret about it, and so he
+spoke freely of your visit to the city, and of what you had said, and of
+the arrangements that you had made to have the treatment continued as
+long as it produced satisfactory results. But," continued Alice, "how
+can I ever pay you this great sum of money that it will cost for my
+treatment?"
+
+"Do not worry about that, Alice," said he, using her Christian name for
+the second time, "the money is nothing. I have more than I know what to
+do with, and it is a pleasure for me to use it in this way, if it will
+be of any benefit to you. You can repay me at any time. You will get
+money from your poems and your stories in due time, and I shall not have
+to suffer if I have to wait a long time for it. God knows, Alice," and
+her name fell from his lips as though he had always called her by that
+name, "that if half, or even the whole of my fortune would give you back
+your sight, I would give it to you willingly. Do you believe me?" And he
+took her hands again in his.
+
+"I believe you," she said simply.
+
+At that moment Mandy appeared at the door with the familiar cry,
+"Supper's ready," and Quincy led Alice to her old place at the table and
+took his seat at her side.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+THE TOWN MEETING.
+
+
+The next day was Friday. After breakfast Quincy went to his room and
+looked over the memorandum pad upon which he had taken pleasure in
+jotting down the various items of his campaign against the
+singing-master. As he looked at the pad he checked off the items that he
+had attended to, but suddenly started back with an expression of
+disgust.
+
+"Confound it," said he, "I neglected to telegraph to those congressmen
+when I was at Eastborough Centre last Tuesday. I hope I'm not too late."
+He reflected for a moment, then said to himself, "No, it's all right;
+this is the long session, and my friends will be in Washington."
+
+He immediately wrote two letters to his Congressional friends, stating
+that he had good reasons for having the appointment of Obadiah Strout as
+postmaster at Mason's Corner, Mass., held up for a week.
+
+"At the end of that time," he wrote, "I will either withdraw my
+objections or present them in detail, accompanied by affidavits in
+opposition to the appointment."
+
+Having finished the letters, he went downstairs to the kitchen, and, as
+usual, found Hiram engaged in conversation with Mandy.
+
+"You are just the man I want," said he to Hiram; "I would like to have
+you take these letters to the Mason's Corner post office and mail them
+at once. You can tell Mr. Hill that the papers relating to the store are
+nearly ready, and if he and his son will come here this afternoon we
+will execute them. I would like to have you and Mr. Pettengill on hand
+as witnesses."
+
+Hiram started off on his mission, and Quincy returned to his room and
+busied himself with the preparation of the documents for the transfer of
+the grocery store, and the making out of the necessary notes to cover
+the twenty-five hundred dollars due for the same.
+
+He had not seen Alice at breakfast, nor did she appear at the dinner
+table. He had followed the rule since she came to the house not to make
+any open inquiries about her health, but from words dropped by Ezekiel
+and Uncle Ike, he had kept fairly well informed as to the result of her
+treatment. At dinner Ezekiel remarked that his sister had commenced to
+take her new medicine, and that he reckoned it must be purty powerful,
+for she had said that she didn't wish anything to eat, and didn't want
+anything sent to her room.
+
+Quincy politely expressed his regrets at her indisposition and trusted
+that she would soon be able to join them again at meal time.
+
+About three o'clock in the afternoon, Samuel Hill and his father
+arrived, and Hiram, remembering Quincy's instructions, had found Ezekiel
+Pettengill, and all came to the room together. It took a comparatively
+short time to sign, seal, and deliver the documents and papers. It was
+arranged that Samuel Hill and his father should take charge of the
+grocery store and carry on the business until a week from the following
+Monday; as Quincy told young Hill that he had some business to attend to
+the early part of the following week that would prevent his giving any
+attention to the store until the latter part of the week.
+
+Quincy treated his principals and witnesses to cigars, and an
+interchange of ideas was made in relation to the result of the auction
+sale.
+
+"How does Strout take it?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"I don't know," spoke up Hiram. "He acts as though he thought I was
+pizen. Every time he sees me he crosses over on t'other side of the
+street, if we happen to be comin' towards each other."
+
+"Well, I imagine," said Quincy, "that your usefulness to him has
+departed in some respects, but it's just as well."
+
+"Well," said young Hill, "I can tell you what he said the other night in
+the grocery store. There was a crowd of his friends there, and he
+remarked that you," turning to Quincy, "might own Hill's grocery store,
+but that wasn't the whole earth. He said that he had no doubt that he
+would be elected unanimously as tax collector, and he was sure of his
+appointment as postmaster, and if he got it he should start another
+grocery store on his own hook and make it lively for you."
+
+"Well," said Quincy with a laugh, "competition is the life of trade, and
+I sha'n't object if he does go into the business; but if he does, I will
+guarantee to undersell him on every article, and I will put on a couple
+of teams and hire a couple of men, and we'll scour Eastborough and
+Mason's Corner and Montrose for orders in the morning, and then we'll
+deliver all the goods by team in the afternoon in regular Boston style.
+I never knew just exactly what I was cut out for. I know I don't like
+studying law, and it may be, after all, that it's my destiny to become a
+grocery-man."
+
+Quincy took Ezekiel by the arm, led him to the window, and whispered
+something to him.
+
+Ezekiel laughed, then turned red in the face, then finally said in an
+undertone, "Waal, I dunno, seems kinder early, but I dunno but it jest
+as well might be then as any other time. I hain't got nuthin' ter do
+this afternoon, so I think I'll take a walk up there to see how the land
+lays."
+
+He said, "Good afternoon" to the others and left the room.
+
+Quincy then took Samuel Hill by the arm in the same manner as he had
+done to Ezekiel, led him to the window, and said something to him which
+wrought a similar effect to that produced upon Ezekiel.
+
+Samuel thought for a moment and then said, "That ain't a bad idea; I'm
+satisfied if the other party is. I'm going to drive over this afternoon
+and tell the old gentleman that matters are all fixed up, and I'll find
+out if there's any objection to the plan. Guess I'll go now, as I've got
+to git back to-night."
+
+So he said "Good afternoon," and, accompanied by his father, took his
+departure.
+
+"Sit down, Hiram," said Quincy, "I want to have a talk with you. Have
+you settled up that little matter with Mandy?"
+
+"No," said Hiram, "not yet; I've ben tryin' to muster up courage, but I
+haven't ben able to up to the present moment."
+
+"I should think," remarked Quincy, "that a man who had carried his
+captain off the field with a shower of bullets raining about him, or who
+had pushed forward with his country's flag in the face of a similar
+storm of bullets, ought not to be afraid to ask a young girl to marry
+him."
+
+"Waal, do yer know," said Hiram, "I'm more afraid o' Mandy than I would
+be of the whole army."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I don't see any other way for you except to walk
+up like a man and meet your fate. Of course if I could do it for you I'd
+be willing to oblige you."
+
+"No, thank yer," said Hiram, "I kinder reckon thet little matter had
+better be settled between the two principals in the case without callin'
+in a lawyer."
+
+Quincy leaned over and whispered something to him.
+
+"By crickey!" said Hiram, "what put thet idea inter yer head?"
+
+"Oh," said Quincy, "since I've had to spend so much time plotting
+against my enemies, I've got into the habit of thinking out little
+surprises for my friends."
+
+"Waal, I swan!" cried Hiram, "that would be the biggest thing ever
+happened in Mason's Corner. Well, I rather think I shall be able to tend
+to that matter now, at once. One, two, three," said Hiram, "just think
+of it; well, that's the biggest lark that I've ever ben connected with;
+beats buying the grocery store all holler."
+
+"Well," continued Quincy, "you three gentlemen understand it now, and if
+matters can be arranged I will do my part, and I promise you all a grand
+send-off; but not a word of it must be breathed to outside parties,
+remember. It won't amount to anything unless its' a big surprise."
+
+"All right," said Hiram, "I kinder reckon Sawyer's surprise party will
+be a bigger one than Strout's was."
+
+"Oh," continued Hiram, "I 'most forgot. Mandy was up ter see her mother
+abeout thet room for thet man that's comin' down from Boston Monday
+night, and Mis' Hawkins says the price of the room is three dollars per
+week and the board fifty cents a day. Mandy paid for the room for a
+week, and Mis' Hawkins says after she takes out what the board comes to
+she'll give the balance back ter Mandy."
+
+"That's all right," said Quincy, "I've heard from the man in Boston, and
+he'll surely occupy the room next Monday night. Mandy can tell her
+mother to have it all ready."
+
+Next morning about ten o'clock, Abbott Smith drove over from Eastborough
+Centre, accompanied by his father and Wallace Stackpole. Quincy took his
+place beside Mr. Stackpole on the rear seat of the carryall, and Abbott
+drove off as though he intended to return to Eastborough Centre, but
+when he reached the crossroad he went through, then turning back towards
+Mason's Corner, drove on until he reached Deacon Mason's barn, following
+the same plan that Ezekiel had on the night of the surprise party.
+
+They found the Deacon at home, and all adjourned to the parlor, where
+'Bias Smith stated his business, which was to ask the Deacon to act as
+Moderator at the town meeting on the following Monday. The Deacon
+objected at first, but finally consented, after Mr. Smith had explained
+several matters to him.
+
+"Yer know," said the Deacon, "my fellow citizens have tried on several
+occasions to have me run for selectman, but I reckoned thet I wuz too
+old to be out so late nights and have to drive home from Eastborough at
+ten or 'leven o'clock at night. Besides I've worked hard in my day, and
+there's no place I like so well as my own home. I'm alwus sorry to go
+away in the mornin' and alwus glad ter git home at night, and although I
+consider that every citizen ought ter do everything he can for the
+public good, I reckon thet there's a good many more anxious than I am to
+serve the town, and I'm not so consated but thet I think they know how
+ter do it better'n I could. But as that Moderator work comes in the
+daytime, as I stand ready to do all I can for my young friend here,"
+turning towards Quincy, "I'll be on hand Monday mornin' and do the best
+I can to serve public and private interests at the same time."
+
+Wallace Stackpole, while the others were talking, had taken a couple of
+newspapers from his pocket, and as Deacon Mason finished, he looked up
+and said, "There's an item here in the 'Eastborough Express,' Deacon,
+that I imagine you'll be interested in. I'll read it to you: 'We are
+informed on the best authority that Miss Huldy Mason, only daughter of
+Deacon Abraham Mason of Mason's Corner, is engaged to Mr. Ezekiel
+Pettengill. The day of the marriage has not been fixed, but our readers
+will be informed in due season.'"
+
+"I'm afraid, Deacon," said Quincy, "that's all my fault. I met young
+Chisholm last Tuesday when I was over to the Centre, and he told me
+something that actually obliged me to confide in him the fact that I
+knew that your daughter was not likely to become Mrs. Obadiah Strout,
+but he promised me on his word of honor that he would not put it in the
+paper unless he got the same information from some other source."
+
+The Deacon haw-hawed in good old-fashioned country style.
+
+"Waal," said he, "young Chisholm tackled me, and said he heard a rumor
+abeout Huldy and Strout, and, as you say, Mr. Sawyer, he kinder 'bliged
+me to set him right. But he made me a promise, as he did you, thet he
+wouldn't say anythin' abeout it unless some other feller told him the
+same thing."
+
+"That young man is sure to get ahead in the world; he buncoed us both,
+Deacon," said Quincy.
+
+"Waal, I dunno as I know just what you mean by buncoed," said the
+Deacon, "but I kinder think he got the best of both on us on thet
+point."
+
+As they took their places again in the carryall, Quincy said to Mr.
+Smith, "If you can drive to Mr. Pettengill's house and wait a few
+minutes, I think I'll go over to Eastborough Centre with you. I'm going
+to Boston this afternoon, and shall not be back again until Monday
+night."
+
+This they consented to do, and after Quincy had obtained certain papers
+and had packed his travelling bag, he left word with Mandy that he would
+not be back to the house until Tuesday of the following week, and it
+might be Wednesday, as he was going to Boston to see his parents.
+
+When they reached Eastborough Centre, Quincy went at once to the post
+office; there he found a short letter from Leopold Ernst. It read as
+follows:
+
+"Dear Q:--
+
+"Come up and see me as soon as you can; I shall be at home all day
+Sunday. Am ready to report on the stories, but have more to say than I
+have time to write.
+
+Invariably thine,
+LEOPOLD ERNST."
+
+Quincy then crossed the Square and entered the office of the
+"Eastborough Express." Sylvester flushed a little as Quincy came in, but
+the latter reassured him by extending his hand and shaking it heartily.
+
+"Is the editor in?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No," replied Sylvester, "he never shows up on Saturdays."
+
+"Who is going to report the town meeting?" continued Quincy.
+
+"I am," answered Sylvester. "The editor will be on hand, but he told me
+yesterday that he should depend on me to write the meeting up, because
+he had a little political work to attend to that would take all his
+time. He told me he was going over to see 'Bias Smith on Sunday, so I
+imagine that Mr. Smith and he are interested on the same side."
+
+"Well, Mr. Chisholm," said Quincy, "you managed that little matter about
+Miss Mason's engagement so neatly that I have something for you to do
+for me. I'm going to Boston this afternoon, and shall not be back until
+half-past seven Monday night. I'm going over to see Mr. Parsons when I
+leave here, and shall arrange with him to supply all our boys with all
+they want to eat and drink next Monday."
+
+"Well, the boys, as you call them, will be pretty apt to be hungry and
+thirsty next Monday," laughed Sylvester.
+
+"That's all right," said Quincy, "I'll stand the bills."
+
+"How's Parsons going to know which are our boys?" continued Chisholm.
+"They ought to have some kind of badge or some kind of a password, or
+your enemies, as well as your friends, will be eating up your
+provisions."
+
+"That's what I want you to attend to," added Quincy. "I'll arrange with
+Parsons that if anybody gives him the letters B D on the quiet, he is to
+consider that they are on our side, and mustn't take any money from
+them, but chalk it up on my score. Now, I depend upon you, Mr. Chisholm,
+to give the password to the faithful, and to pay you for your time and
+trouble just take this."
+
+And he passed a twenty-dollar bill to Sylvester. The latter drew back.
+
+"No, Mr. Sawyer," said he, "I cannot take any money for that service.
+This work is to be done, for I understand the whole business, to defeat
+the man who, I think, has treated my sister in a very mean manner, and
+I'm willing to work all day and all night without any pay to knock that
+fellow out. Let's put it that way,--I'm working against him, and not for
+you; and, looking at it that way, of course, there's no reason why you
+should pay me anything."
+
+"All right," rejoined Quincy, "I should have no feeling if you took the
+money, but I can appreciate your sentiments, and will have no feeling
+because you do not take it. One of these days I may be able to do as
+great a service for you, as you are willing to do for me between now and
+next Monday."
+
+They shook hands and parted, and Quincy made his way to the Eagle Hotel,
+of which Mr. Seth Parsons was the proprietor. Mr. Parsons greeted him
+heartily and invited him into his private room. Here Quincy told the
+arrangement that he had made with young Chisholm, and gave him the
+password.
+
+"Don't stint them," said Quincy, "let them have a good time; but don't
+let anybody know who pays for it. I shall be down on the half-past seven
+express, Monday night, and I would like to have a nice little dinner for
+eight or nine people ready in your private dining-room at eight o'clock.
+Mr. Tobias Smith knows who my guests are to be, and if I am delayed from
+any cause, he will tell you who are entitled to go in and eat the
+dinner."
+
+The next train to Boston was due in ten minutes, and shaking hands with
+the hotel proprietor, he made his way quickly to the station. As he
+reached the platform he noticed that Abner Stiles was just driving away;
+the thought flashed through his mind that somebody from Mason's Corner
+was going to the city; but that was no uncommon event, and the thought
+passed from him.
+
+He entered the car, and, to his surprise, found that it was filled;
+every seat in sight was taken. He walked forward and espied a seat near
+the farther end of the car. He noticed that a lady sat near the window;
+when he reached it he raised his hat, and leaning forward, said
+politely, "Is this seat taken?"
+
+"No, sir," replied a pleasant, but somewhat sad voice, and he sank into
+the seat without further thought as to its other occupant.
+
+When they reached the first station beyond Eastborough Centre he glanced
+out of the window, and as he did so, noticed that his companion was Miss
+Lindy Putnam.
+
+"Why, Miss Putnam," cried he, turning towards her, "how could I be so
+ungallant as not to recognize you?"
+
+"Well," replied Lindy, "perhaps it's just as well that you didn't; my
+thoughts were not very pleasant, and I should not have been a very
+entertaining companion."
+
+"More trouble at home?" he inquired in a low voice.
+
+"Yes," answered Lindy, in a choked voice, "since Mr. Putnam died it has
+been worse than ever. While he lived she had him to talk to; but now she
+insists on talking to me, and sends for me several times a day,
+ostensibly to do something for her, but really simply to get me in the
+room so she can talk over the old, old story, and say spiteful and
+hateful things to me. May Heaven pardon me for saying so, Mr. Sawyer,
+but I am thankful that it's nearly at an end."
+
+"Why, what do you mean," asked Quincy, "is she worse?"
+
+"Yes," said Lindy, "she is failing very rapidly physically, but her
+voice and mental powers are as strong as ever; in fact, I think she is
+more acute in her mind and sharper in her words than she has ever been
+before. Dr. Budd ordered some medicine that I could not get at the
+Centre, and so there was no way for me except to go to the city for it.
+Let me tell you now, Mr. Sawyer, something that I should have been
+obliged to write to you, if I had not seen you. I shall stay with Mrs.
+Putnam until she dies, for I promised Jones that I would, and I could
+never break any promise that I made to him; but the very moment that
+she's dead I shall leave the house and the town forever!"
+
+"Shall you not stay to the funeral?" said Quincy; "what will the
+townspeople say?"
+
+"I don't care what they say," rejoined Lindy, in a sharp tone; "she is
+not my mother, and I will not stay to the funeral and hypocritically
+mourn over her, when in my secret heart I shall be glad she is dead."
+
+"Those are harsh words," said Quincy.
+
+"Not one-tenth nor one-hundredth as harsh and unfeeling as those she has
+used to me," said Lindy. "No, my mind is made up; my trunks are all
+packed, and she will not be able to lock me in my room this time. I
+shall leave town by the first train after her death, and Eastborough
+will never see me nor hear from me again."
+
+"But how about your friends," asked Quincy, "supposing that I should
+find out something that would be of interest to you; supposing that I
+should get some information that might lead to the discovery of your
+real parents, how could I find you?"
+
+"Well," replied Lindy, "if you will give me your promise that you will
+not disclose to any one what I am going to say, I will tell you how to
+find me."
+
+"You have my word," replied Quincy.
+
+"Well," answered Lindy, "I'm going to New York! I would tell you where,
+but I don't know. But if you wish to find me at any time advertise in
+the Personal Column of the 'New York Herald'; address it to Linda, and
+sign it Eastborough," said she, after a moment's thought. "I shall drop
+the name of Putnam when I arrive in New York, but what name I shall take
+I have not yet decided upon; it will depend upon circumstances. But I
+shall have the 'New York Herald' every day, and if you advertise for me
+I shall be sure to see it."
+
+She then relapsed into silence, and Quincy forbore to speak any more, as
+he saw she was busy with her own thoughts. They soon reached the city
+and parted at the door of the station. She gave him her hand, and as he
+held it in his for a moment, he said, "Good-by, Miss Linda." She thanked
+him for not saying "Miss Putnam" with a glance of her eyes. "I may not
+see you again, but you may depend upon me. If I hear of anything that
+will help you in your search for your parents, my time shall be given to
+the matter, and I will communicate with you at the earliest moment.
+Good-by."
+
+He raised his hat and they parted.
+
+Town Meeting Day proved to be a bright and pleasant one. At nine o'clock
+the Town Hall was filled with the citizens of Eastborough. They had come
+from the Centre, they had come from West Eastborough and from Mason's
+Corner. There were very nearly four hundred gathered upon the floor, the
+majority of them being horny-handed sons of toil, or, more properly
+speaking, independent New England farmers.
+
+When Jeremiah Spinney, the oldest man in town, who had reached the age
+of ninety-two, and who declared that he hadn't "missed a town meetin'
+for seventy year," called the meeting to order, a hush fell upon the
+assemblage. In a cracked, but still distinct voice, he called for a
+nomination for Moderator of the meeting. Abraham Mason's name, of
+Mason's Corner, was the only one presented. The choice was by
+acclamation; for it was acknowledged on all sides that Deacon Mason was
+as square a man as there was in town.
+
+The newly-elected Moderator took the chair and called upon the clerk to
+read the warrant for the meeting. This was soon done, and the
+transaction of the town's business begun in earnest. It will be, of
+course, impossible and unnecessary to give a complete and connected
+account of all that took place in town meeting on that day. For such an
+account the trader is referred to the columns of the "Eastborough
+Express," for it was afterwards acknowledged on all sides that the
+account of the meeting written by Mr. Sylvester Chisholm was the most
+graphic and comprehensive that had ever appeared in that paper. We have
+to do only with those items in the warrant that related directly or
+indirectly to those residents of the town with whom we are interested.
+
+When the question of appropriating a certain sum for the support of the
+town Almshouse was reached, Obadiah Strout sprang to his feet and called
+out, "Mister Moderator," in a loud voice. He was recognized, and
+addressed the chair as follows:
+
+"Mister Moderator, before a vote is taken on the questions of
+appropriatin' for the support of the town poor, I wish to call the
+attention of my fellow-citizens to a matter that has come to my
+knowledge durin' the past year. A short time ago a man who had been a
+town charge for more than three years, and whose funeral expenses were
+paid by the town, was discovered by me to be the only brother of a man
+livin' in Boston, who is said to be worth a million dollars. A very
+strange circumstance was that the son of this wealthy man, and a nephew
+of this town pauper, has been livin' in this town for several months,
+and spendin' his money in every way that he could think of to attract
+attention, but it never occurred to him that he could have used his
+money to better advantage if he had taken some of it and paid it to the
+town for takin' care of his uncle. These facts are well known to many of
+us here, and I move that a ballot--"
+
+Tobias Smith had been fidgeting uneasily in his seat while Strout was
+speaking, and when he mentioned the word "ballot," he could restrain
+himself no longer, but jumped to Bids feet and called out in his
+stentorian voice, "Mister Moderator, I rise to a question of privilege."
+
+"I have the floor," shouted Strout, "and I wish to finish my remarks.
+This is only an attempt of the opposition to shut me off. I demand to be
+heard!"
+
+"Mister Moderator," screamed Abner Stiles, "I move that Mr. Strout be
+allowed to continue without further interruption."
+
+The Moderator brought his gavel down on the table and called out,
+"Order, order." Then turning to Tobias, he said, "Mr. Smith, state your
+question of privilege."
+
+Strout sank into his seat, his face livid with passion; turning to
+Stiles, he said, "This is all cooked up between 'em. You know you told
+me you saw Smith and Stackpole and that city chap drivin' away from the
+Deacon's house last Saturday mornin'."
+
+Stiles nodded his head and said, "I guess you're right."
+
+Mr. Smith continued, "My question of privilege, Mister Moderator, is
+this: I desire to present it now, because when I've stated it, my fellow
+citizen," turning to Strout, "will find that it's unnecessary to make
+any motion in relation to the matter to which he has referred. I hold in
+my hand a letter from Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer, whose father is the Hon.
+Nathaniel Sawyer of Boston, and whose uncle was Mr. James Sawyer, who
+died in the Eastborough Poorhouse several weeks ago. By conference with
+Mr. Waters, who is in charge of the Poorhouse, and with the Town
+Treasurer, he ascertained that the total expense to which the town of
+Eastborough has been put for the care of his uncle was four hundred and
+sixty-eight dollars and seventy-two cents. I hold his check for that
+sum, drawn to the order of the Town Treasurer, and certified to be good
+by the cashier of the Eastborough National Bank. He has requested me to
+offer this check to the town, and that a receipt for the same be given
+by the Town Treasurer."
+
+Strout jumped to his feet.
+
+"Mister Moderator, I am glad to learn," cried he, "that this son of a
+millionaire has had his heart touched and his conscience pricked by the
+kindness shown by the town of Eastborough to his uncle, and I move the
+check be accepted and a receipt given by the Town Treasurer, as
+requested."
+
+"Second the motion!" called out Abner Stiles.
+
+"Before puttin' the question," said the Moderator slowly, "I want to say
+a few words on this matter, and as it may be thought not just proper for
+me to speak from the chair, I will call upon the Rev. Caleb Howe to take
+the same durin' my remarks."
+
+The well-known clergyman at Mason's Corner came forward, ascended the
+platform, took the chair, and recognized Deacon Mason's claim to be
+heard.
+
+"I have heerd the motion to accept this check, an' I desire ter say thet
+I am teetotally opposed to the town's takin' this money. If the
+Honorable Nathaniel Sawyer, who's the dead man's brother, or Mr. Quincy
+Adams Sawyer, who's his nephew, had known that he wuz a pauper, they
+would 'er relieved the town of any further charge. We hev no legal claim
+agin either of these two gentlemen. Our claim is agin ther town of
+Amesbury, in which Mr. James Sawyer was a citizen and a taxpayer. If Mr.
+Quincy Adams Sawyer wishes to pay ther town of Amesbury after ther town
+of Amesbury has paid us, thet's his affair and none o' our business, but
+we've no legal right to accept a dollar from him, when our legal claim
+is agin the town in which he hed a settlement, and I hope this motion
+will not prevail."
+
+As Deacon Mason regained the platform loud cries of "Vote! Vote! Vote!"
+came from all parts of the hall.
+
+Tellers were appointed, and in a few moments the result of the vote was
+announced. In favor of Mr. Strout's motion to accept the check,
+eighty-five. Opposed, two hundred and eighty. And it was not a vote.
+
+"We will now proceed," said the Moderator, as he resumed the chair, "to
+consider the question of appropriating money for the support of the
+Poor-farm."
+
+The next matter on the warrant of general interest was the appropriation
+of a small sum of money to purchase some reference books for the town
+library, which consisted of but a few hundred volumes stowed away in a
+badly-lighted and poorly-ventilated room on the upper floor of the Town
+Hall.
+
+This question brought to his feet Zachariah Butterfield, who was looked
+upon as the watchdog of the town treasury. He had not supported Strout
+on the question of accepting the check, because he knew the position
+taken by the Moderator was legally correct, and he was very careful in
+opposing appropriations to attack only those where, as it seemed to him,
+he had a good show of carrying his point. He had been successful so
+often, that with him success was a duty, for he had a reputation to
+maintain.
+
+"Mister Moderator," he said, "I'm agin appropriatin' any more money for
+this 'ere town lib'ry. We hev got plenty of schoolbooks in our schools;
+we hev got plenty of books and newspapers in our houses, and it's my
+opinion thet those people who spend their time crawlin' up three flights
+er stairs and readin' those books had better be tillin' ther soil,
+poundin' on ther anvil, or catchin fish. Neow, I wuz talkin' with Miss
+Burpee, the librari'n, and she sez they want a new Wooster's
+Dictshuneery, 'cause ther old one iz all worn eout. Neow, I looked
+through the old one, and I couldn't see but what it's jest as good as
+ever; there may be a few pages missin', but what's thet amount ter when
+there's more'n a couple of thousan' on 'em left?"
+
+Mr. Tobias Smith was again fidgeting in his seat. He evidently had
+something to say and was anxious to say it.
+
+Mr. Butterfield continued: "Neow, to settle this question onct fer all,
+I make ther motion that this 'ere lib'ry be closed up and the librari'n
+discharged; she gits a dollar a week, and ther town ken use that
+fifty-two dollars a year, in my opinion, to better advantege."
+
+"Mister Moderator," came again from Mr. Tobias Smith, "I rise to a
+question of privilege--"
+
+Mr. Butterfield kept on talking: "Mister Moderator, this is not a
+question of privilege; this is a question of expenditure of money for a
+needless purpose. Yes, Mister Moderator, for a needless purpose."
+
+Mr. Butterfield had evidently lost the thread of his discourse, and Mr.
+Smith, taking advantage of his temporary indecision, said, "I agree with
+the gentleman who has just spoken; I am in favor of closing up this
+musty, dusty old room, and saving the further expenditure of money upon
+it."
+
+Mr. Butterfield, hearing these words, and not having sufficiently
+collected his thoughts to say anything himself, nodded approvingly and
+sank into his seat.
+
+Mr. Smith continued, "I have a proposition to submit in relation to the
+town library. I hold in my hand a letter from Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer,
+whose name has been previously mentioned--"
+
+Mr. Strout jumped to his feet.
+
+"Mister Moderator, I rise to a question of privilege."
+
+"I second the motion!" cried Abner Stiles.
+
+"State your question of privilege, Mr. Strout," said the Moderator.
+
+"I wish to inquire," answered Strout, "if the time of this town meetin'
+is to be devoted to the legitimate business of the town, or is it to be
+fooled away in hearin' letters read from a person who is not a citizen
+of the town, and who is not entitled to be heard in this town meetin'?"
+
+"Mister Moderator," said Mr. Smith, "I am a citizen of this town, and
+I'm entitled to be heard in this meeting, and the matter that I'm about
+to bring to the attention of this meeting is a most important one and
+affects the interests of the town materially. I consider that I have a
+right to read this letter or any other letter that relates to the
+question before the meeting, which is, 'Shall money be appropriated to
+buy books for what is called the town library?' I say NO; and my reason
+for this is contained in this letter, which I propose to read."
+
+"Go on, Mr. Smith," said the Moderator.
+
+"Well," continued Mr. Smith, "Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer, in this letter,
+offers to the town of Eastborough the sum of five thousand dollars, to
+be used either for purchasing books and paying the expenses of a library
+to be located in the Town Hall; or a portion of the money may be used to
+build a suitable building, and the balance for the equipment and support
+of the library."
+
+Mr. Butterfield was on his feet again.
+
+"Mister Moderator, I'm agin acceptin' this donation. If we take it, we
+shall only jump out er the fryin-pan inter the fire; instead of buyin' a
+few books and payin' the librari'n a dollar a week, we shall hev to hev
+a jan'ter for the new buildin', and pay fer insurance, and we shell hev
+ter hev a librari'n ev'ry day in ther week, and by'm by the ungodly will
+want ter hev it open on a Sunday, so thet they kin hev a place to loaf
+in; and I'm agin the whole bizness teetotally. I've sed my say; neow,
+you kin go ahead, and do jest as you please."
+
+This was Mr. Butterfield's usual wind-up to his arguments; but on this
+occasion it seemed to fail of its effect.
+
+The Moderator said, "Was Mr. Butterfield's motion seconded?" There was
+no response. "Then the matter before the meeting is the question of
+appropriating money for the support of the town library."
+
+"Mister Moderator," said Mr. Smith, "I move that the donation from Mr.
+Quincy Adams Sawyer be accepted, and that the library be named 'The
+Sawyer Free Public Library of the Town of Eastborough.'"
+
+"Second the motion!" came from a hundred voices.
+
+Strout was on his feet again.
+
+"Mister Moderator," said he, "I move to amend the motion by havin' it
+read that we decline, that the town declines the donation without
+thanks."
+
+A loud laugh arose from the assemblage.
+
+Abner Stiles had evidently misinterpreted Mr. Strout's motion, for he
+called out, "Mister Moderator," and when he got the floor, "I move to
+amend so that the motion would read, this library shall be called the
+Strout Free Library of the Town of Eastborough."
+
+This was greeted with shouts of laughter, and Strout grasped Abner by
+his coat collar and pulled him violently back upon the settee.
+
+"Shut up, you fool," cried he between his teeth to Abner; "do you want
+to make a laughin' stock of me?"
+
+"I kinder thought I wuz a-helpin' yer," said Abner, as he ran his
+fingers down under his chin and pulled away his shirt collar, which had
+been drawn back so forcibly that it interfered with his breathing.
+
+"The question now," said the Moderator, "is on the adoption of Mr.
+Smith's motion. Those in favor will please stand up and be counted."
+
+When the tellers had attended to their duty the Moderator said, "Those
+opposed will now rise and be counted."
+
+The vote was soon announced. In favor of accepting the donation, three
+hundred and one; opposed, fifty-eight.
+
+"It's a vote," declared the Moderator.
+
+A dozen matters of minor importance were quickly disposed of, and but
+one remained upon the warrant, with the exception of the election of
+town officers. Little squads of the members were now gathered together
+talking over the most important question of the meeting, which was the
+election of town officers for the ensuing year. The last item on the
+warrant read: "Will the town appropriate money to buy a new hearse?"
+
+Mr. Butterfield had evidently been holding himself in reserve, for he
+was on his feet in an instant, and he secured the eye of the Moderator
+and the floor.
+
+"Mister Moderator," began Mr. Butterfield, "I desire to raise my voice
+agin this biznez of unnecessary and unexampled extravagance. What do we
+want of a new hearse? Those who are dead and in the cemetery don't find
+any fault with the one we've got, and those who are livin' have no
+present use for it, and why should they complain? I know what this
+means. This is only an enterin' wedge. If this 'ere bill passes and we
+git a new hearse, then it'll be said thet ther horses don't look as well
+as the hearse, and then if ther hearse gits out in ther storm, we shell
+hev ter pay money to git it polished up agin, and we who are livin' will
+hev to work harder and harder for the benefit of those who are jest as
+well satisfied with the old hearse as they would be with a new one. I
+move, Mister Moderator, that instid of buyin' a new hearse, thet ther
+old one be lengthened six inches, which ken be done at a slight
+expense."
+
+Mr. Tobias Smith now took the floor.
+
+"I am glad that my friend has not opposed this measure entirely, but has
+provided for my proper exit from this world when my time comes. I must
+confess that it has troubled me a great deal when I have thought about
+that hearse. I was born down in the State of Maine, where the boys and
+the trees grow up together. I stand six feet two in my stockings and six
+feet three with my boots on, and I haven't looked forward with any
+pleasure to being carried to my last resting place in a hearse that was
+only six feet long. I second Mr. Butterfield's motion, but move to amend
+it by extending the length to seven feet."
+
+The vote was taken, and Mr. Butterfield's motion was carried by a vote
+of three hundred and forty to twenty-two. Mr. Butterfield sank back in
+his seat with an expression on his face that seemed to say, "I've done
+the town some service to-day."
+
+The Moderator then rose and said, "Fellow-citizens, all the business
+matters upon the warrant have now been disposed of. We will now proceed
+to the election of town officers for the ensuing year."
+
+Mr. Stackpole rose and called out, "Mister Moderator, it is now nearly
+twelve o'clock, and some of us had to leave home quite early this
+morning in order to be in time at the meeting. I move that we adjourn
+till one o'clock, at which time balloting for town officers usually
+commences."
+
+Forty voices cried out, "Second the motion," and although Strout,
+Stiles, and several others jumped to their feet and endeavored to secure
+the Moderator's eye, the motion was adopted by an overwhelming vote, and
+the greater portion of the members made their way out of the hall and
+directed their steps towards the Eagle Hotel, as if the whole matter had
+been prearranged. Here, Mr. Parsons, the proprietor, had set out a most
+tempting lunch in the large dining-room, and those who were able to give
+the password were admitted to the room, and feasted to their heart's
+content.
+
+Abner Stiles, impelled by curiosity, had followed the party, and had
+noticed that each one said something to the proprietor before he was
+admitted to the dining-room. Going up to Parsons, he said, "What's goin'
+on in there?"
+
+"Oh, I guess they're having a caucus," replied Mr. Parsons.
+
+"When thet last feller went in," said Abner, "I saw that the table was
+all set, and I kinder 'magined they must be havin' a dinner. I'd kinder
+like some myself."
+
+"Well, I'm sorry," said Mr. Parsons, "but I cannot accommodate any more
+than have already applied. You can get a lunch over to the railroad
+station, you know, if you want one."
+
+"I know," answered Abner, "but I kinder 'magine they're talkin' over
+'lection matters in there, and I'd rather like ter know what's goin'
+on."
+
+"Well, I guess you'll find out when they get back to the Town Hall,"
+remarked Mr. Parsons; and he stepped forward to greet three or four
+other citizens, who leaned over and whispered in his ear.
+
+Mr. Parsons smiled and nodded, and opening the door admitted them to the
+dining-room.
+
+"Well, that beats all," said Abner, as he went out on the platform in
+front of the hotel. "They jest whispered somethin' to him and he let 'em
+right in. I kinder think somethin's goin' on and thet Strout ain't up to
+it. Guess I'll go back and tell him," which he proceeded to do.
+
+He found Strout and some sixty or seventy of the citizens still
+remaining in the Town Hall, the majority of whom were eating the
+luncheons that they had brought with them from home. Taking Strout
+aside, Abner confided to him the intelligence of which he had become
+possessed.
+
+"'D'yer know what it means?" asked Abner.
+
+"No, I don't," said Strout, "but I bet a dollar that it's some of that
+city chap's doin's. Is he 'round about town this mornin'?"
+
+"No," said Abner, "he went to Bosting on the same train with Miss Lindy
+Putnam, for I fetched her down, and I saw him git inter the same car
+with her as I wuz drivin' off."
+
+One o'clock soon arrived, and the large party that had regaled
+themselves with the appetizing viands and non-alcoholic beverages
+supplied by mine host of the Eagle Hotel came back to the Town Hall in
+the best of spirits. The majority of them were smoking good cigars,
+which had been handed to them by the proprietor, as they passed from the
+dining-room.
+
+When asked if there was anything to pay, Mr. Parsons shook his head and
+remarked sententiously, "This is not the only present that the town has
+received to-day," which was a delicate way of insinuating the name of
+the donor of the feast without actually mentioning it.
+
+The election of a dozen minor officers calls for no special attention,
+except to record the fact that Abner Stiles, who had cautiously taken a
+position several settees removed from Strout, arose as the nominations
+were made for each office, and in every case nominated Mr. Obadiah
+Strout for the position, and it is needless to add that Mr. Obadiah
+Strout had at least one vote for each office in the gift of the town.
+
+The nomination of a collector of taxes for the town was finally reached.
+Abner Stiles was first on his feet, and being recognized by the
+Moderator, nominated "Mr. Obadiah Strout, who had performed the duties
+of the office so efficiently during the past year."
+
+Now the battle royal began. Mr. Tobias Smith next obtained the floor and
+nominated Mr. Wallace Stackpole.
+
+"In presenting this nomination, Mister Moderator, I do it out of justice
+to an old soldier who served the country faithfully, and who lost the
+election a year ago on account of an untrue statement that was widely
+circulated and which could not be refuted in time to affect the question
+of his election. I hold in my hand three documents. The first one is a
+certified copy of the war record of Wallace Stackpole, who entered one
+of our regiments of Volunteers as a private, served throughout the war,
+and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. This record shows
+that during his four years of service he was three times wounded; in one
+instance so badly that for weeks his life hung by a thread, and it was
+only by the most careful treatment that amputation of his right arm was
+avoided. I hold here also the war record of the present incumbent of the
+office. From it I learn that he entered the army as a private and was
+discharged at the end of two years still holding the rank of private,
+and sent home as an invalid. He is not to blame for this, but inspecting
+his record I find that within a month after he joined the army he was
+detailed for service in the hospital, and during the two years of his
+connection with the army he was never engaged in a single battle, not
+even in a skirmish."
+
+Cries rose from certain parts of the hall in opposition to the speaker,
+and Deacon Mason remarked that while it was perfectly proper to compare
+the war records of the two candidates for the position, it must be borne
+in mind that because a man was a soldier, or, rather, because he did a
+little more fighting than the other one, was no reason that he would
+make a better tax collector.
+
+The Moderator's remarks were greeted with applause, and Strout's face
+brightened.
+
+"I am glad to see the Deacon's bound to have fair play," said he to an
+old farmer who sat next to him.
+
+"Waal, I guess you're more liable to git it than you are disposed to
+give it," drawled the old farmer, who evidently was not an adherent of
+the present incumbent of the office.
+
+Mr. Tobias Smith continued his remarks:
+
+"I acknowledge the correctness of the remarks just made by our honored
+Moderator, and desire to say that I hold in my hand a third document,
+which is a statement of the taxes due and collected during the past
+twenty years by the different persons who have held the office of tax
+collector. I find during nineteen years of that time that the lowest
+percentage of taxes left unpaid at the end of the year was five per
+cent; the highest percentage during these nineteen years, and that
+occurred during the war, was fourteen per cent; but I find that during
+the past year only seventy-eight per cent of the taxes due have been
+collected, leaving twenty-two per cent still due the town, and the
+non-receipt of this money will seriously hamper the selectmen during the
+coming year, unless we choose a man who can give his entire time to the
+business and collect the money that is due. This statement is certified
+to by the town treasurer, and I do not suppose that the present
+incumbent will presume to question its accuracy."
+
+Strout evidently thought that a further discussion of the matter might
+work to his still greater disadvantage, for he leaned over and spoke to
+one of his adherents, who rose and said:
+
+"Mister Moderator, this discussion has taken a personal nature, in which
+I am not disposed to indulge. I don't think that anything will be gained
+by such accusations and comparisons. It strikes me that the last speaker
+is trying to give tit for tat because his candidate lost at the last
+election; but I am one of those who believe that criminations and
+recriminations avail nothing, and I move that we proceed to vote at
+once."
+
+"Second the motion!" screamed Abner Stiles from the settee on which he
+had assumed a standing posture.
+
+The vote was taken. Those in favor of Obadiah Strout being called upon
+to stand up first, they numbered exactly one hundred and one. Then those
+in favor of Wallace Stackpole were called upon to rise, and they
+numbered two hundred and eighty-four; several citizens having put in an
+appearance at one o'clock who had not attended the morning session.
+
+The next matter was the election of the Board of Selectmen; and the old
+board was elected by acclamation without a division. The meeting then
+adjourned without day.
+
+The five minutes past six train, express from Boston, arrived on time,
+and at twenty minutes of eight, Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer entered the
+private dining-room in the Eagle Hotel. There he found gathered Mr.
+Tobias Smith, Mr. Wallace Stackpole, Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill, Mr.
+Sylvester Chisholm, and the Board of Selectmen, making the party of
+eight which Quincy had mentioned. It was eleven o'clock before the
+dinner party broke up, and during that time Quincy had heard from one or
+another of the party a full account of the doings at the town meeting.
+
+It is needless to say that he was satisfied with the results, but he
+said nothing to indicate that fact in the presence of the Board of
+Selectmen. They were the first to leave, and then there was an
+opportunity for mutual congratulations by the remaining members of the
+party. To these four should be added Mr. Parsons, the proprietor, upon
+whose face rested a broad smile when he presented his bill for the day's
+expenses, and the sum was paid by Quincy.
+
+"We had a very pleasant time," remarked Mr. Parsons to Mr. Sawyer as he
+bade him good evening.
+
+"I am delighted to hear it," said Quincy, "and I regret very much that
+my business in the city prevented my being here to enjoy it."
+
+On the way home with Ezekiel they went over the events of the day again
+together, and Ezekiel told him many little points, that for obvious
+reasons had been omitted at the dinner party.
+
+Quincy was driven directly to Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house, for he had
+explained his programme to Ezekiel. He turned up his coat collar and
+pulled his hat down over his eyes, as he was admitted; and, although
+Mrs. Hawkins's eyes were naturally sharp, she did not recognize the late
+comer, who proceeded upstairs to his room, which Mrs. Hawkins informed
+him was right opposite the head of the stairs, and there was a light
+burning in the room and a good warm fire, and if he needed anything, if
+he would just call to her inside of the next ten minutes, she would get
+it for him.
+
+Quincy said nothing, but went into his room and shut the door, and there
+we will leave him.
+
+As Strout and Abner drove back to Mason's Corner, after the adjournment
+of the town meeting, nothing was said for the first mile of the trip.
+
+Then Abner turned to him and remarked, "You ought ter be well satisfied
+with to-day's perceedin's."
+
+"How do you make that out?" growled Strout.
+
+"Waal, I think the events proved," said Abner, "that you wuz the most
+pop'lar man in ther town."
+
+"How do you make that out?" again growled Strout.
+
+"Why," said Abner, "you wuz nominated for every office in the gift o'
+ther town, and that's more'n any other feller could say."
+
+"If you don't shut up," said Strout, "I'll nominate you for town idyut,
+and there won't be any use of any one runnin' agin yer!"
+
+Abner took his reproof meekly. He always did when Strout spoke to him.
+No more was said until they reached home. Strout entered the boarding
+house and went upstairs to his room, forgetting that there was a man
+from Boston, to arrive late that evening, who was to have the next room
+to his.
+
+Abner put up the horse and went home. As he went by Strout's door,
+thoughts of the rum and molasses, and the good cigar that he had enjoyed
+the night of the surprise party one week ago went through his mind, and
+he stopped before Strout's door and listened attentively, but there was
+no sound, and he went upstairs disconsolately, and went to bed feeling
+that his confidence in the Professor had been somewhat diminished by the
+events of the day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+MRS. HAWKINS' BOARDING HOUSE.
+
+
+Mrs. Hawkins waited patiently until eight o'clock for the gentleman from
+Boston to come down to breakfast. She then waited impatiently from eight
+o'clock till nine. During that time she put the breakfast on the stove
+to keep it warm, and also made several trips to the front entry, where
+she listened to see if she could hear any signs of movement on the part
+of her new boarder.
+
+When nine o'clock arrived she could restrain her impatience no longer,
+and, going upstairs, she gave a sharp knock on the door of Quincy's
+room.
+
+"What is it?" answered a voice, somewhat sharply.
+
+"It's nine o'clock, and your breakfast's most dried up," replied Mrs.
+Hawkins.
+
+"I don't wish for any breakfast," said the voice within the room, but in
+a much pleasanter tone. "What time do you have dinner?"
+
+"Twelve o'clock," said Mrs. Hawkins.
+
+"All right," answered the voice, cheerfully. "I'll take my breakfast and
+dinner together."
+
+"That beats all," said Mrs. Hawkins, as she entered the kitchen.
+
+"What beats all?" asked Betsy Green, who worked for Mrs. Hawkins.
+
+"It beats all," repeated Mrs. Hawkins, "how these city folks can sit up
+till twelve o'clock at night, and then go without their breakfast till
+noontime. I've fixed up somethin' pretty nice for him, and I don't
+propose to see it wasted."
+
+"What are you goin' to do with it?" asked Betsy. "'Twon't keep till
+to-morrer mornin'."
+
+"I'm goin' to eat it myself," said Mrs. Hawkins. And suiting the action
+to the word, she transferred the appetizing breakfast to the kitchen
+table, and, taking a seat, began to devour it.
+
+"Have you seen your sister, Samanthy, lately?" she asked.
+
+"I was up there Sunday evening," replied Betsy, "and she said Mis'
+Putnam was failin' very fast. She keeps her bed all the time now, and
+Samanthy has to run up and down stairs, 'bout forty times a day. She
+won't let Miss Lindy do a thing for her."
+
+"Well, if I was Lindy," said Mrs. Hawkins, "I wouldn't do anything for
+her if she wanted me to. She used to abuse that child shamefully. Is
+Miss Lindy goin' to keep house arter her mother dies?"
+
+"No," said Betsy, "she's got her things all packed up, and she told
+Samanthy she should leave town for well and good as soon as her mother
+was buried."
+
+"I don't blame her," exclaimed Mrs. Hawkins. "Where's Samanthy goin'?"
+
+"Oh, she says she wants to rest awhile afore she goes anywheres else to
+live. She's all run down."
+
+"P'r'aps she'll go and stay with yer mother for a while."
+
+"No," said Betsy, "she won't go there."
+
+"Ain't yer mother 'n' her on good terms?"
+
+"Oh, yes," replied Betsy, "but the four boys send mother five dollars a
+month apiece, and us girls give her two dollars a month apiece, and it's
+understood that none of us is to go and loaf 'round at home, 'less we
+pay our board."
+
+"That's all right," said Mrs. Hawkins. "You can tell Samanthy for me
+that she can come here and stay a couple o' weeks with you. Your bed's
+big enough for two, and I won't charge her no board if she's willin' to
+wait on table at dinner time. You'll get the benefit of it, ye know,
+Betsy, for you kin get the dinner dishes done so much earlier."
+
+"That's very kind of you, Mrs. Hawkins," said Betsy, and the
+conversation lapsed for a moment till she inquired, "Will your daughter
+Mandy stay with Mr. Pettengill arter he marries Huldy Mason?"
+
+"I don't know," replied Mrs. Hawkins. "Mandy says that Hiram Maxwell is
+the biggest fool of a man she ever saw."
+
+"Then she must think a good deal of him," laughed Betsy.
+
+"Wall, I fancy she does," replied Mrs. Hawkins; "and I've no objections
+to him, seein' as that Mr. Sawyer is goin' to put him inter the grocery
+store and back him up. But Mandy says that he won't come to the pi'nt.
+He hints and hints and wobbles all 'round the question, but he don't ask
+her to marry him right out and out. Mandy says she won't gin in until he
+does, for if she does, she says he'll be chuckin' it at her one of these
+days that he didn't ask her to marry him and be sayin' as how she threw
+herself at him, but there's too much of the old Job Skinner spirit in
+Mandy for her to do anythin' like that."
+
+At this moment Mrs. Hawkins looked up and saw Hiram Maxwell standing in
+the half-open doorway that led into the wood-shed.
+
+"List'ners never hear any good of themselves," remarked Mrs. Hawkins, as
+Hiram advanced into the room.
+
+"I didn't hear nothin'," said Hiram. "I've got too many things in my
+head to tell yer to mind any women's talk," he continued.
+
+"What is it?" cried Mrs. Hawkins and Betsy simultaneously.
+
+"Well, fust," said Hiram, "early this mornin' your sister Samanthy,"
+here he looked at Betsy, "came tearin' down to Deacon Mason's house
+and said as how Mis' Hepsey Putnam was powerful bad, and she wanted me
+to run down to 'Zeke Pettengill's and have him bring his sister right up
+to the house, 'cause Mis' Putnam wanted to see her afore she died, and
+the Deacon's wife said as how I could go up with him and her, and so we
+druv up, and a little while ago your sister Samanthy," here he looked at
+Betsy again, "asked me if I'd drive over and ask Mis' Hawkins if you,"
+here he looked at Betsy for the third time, "could come up and stay with
+her this arternoon, for she thinks Mis' Putnam is goin' to die, and she
+don't want to be left alone up in that big house."
+
+Betsy looked at Mrs. Hawkins inquiringly.
+
+Mrs. Hawkins saw the glance and said, "I can't spare yer till arter
+dinner, Betsy; say 'bout one o'clock. You kin go and stay till the fust
+thing to-morrer mornin'. I guess I kin manage supper alone."
+
+"Samanthy will be much obleeged, Mis' Hawkins," said Hiram. "I'll drive
+right back and tell her, and I'll drive down agin about one o'clock
+arter Betsy."
+
+"List'ners get a good p'int now and then," remarked Hiram to himself.
+"Now I see what made Mandy so durned offish. Wall, she won't have any
+excuse in the future. I guess I kin ask her a straight question when I
+git good and ready, Mother Hawkins." And he struck the horse such a
+violent blow with the whip that it required all his attention for the
+next few minutes to bring him down to a trot. When he had done so he had
+reached his destination and his resentful feelings had subsided.
+
+After Hiram had gone, Mrs. Hawkins and Betsy busied themselves getting
+dinner. Happening to glance out of the window, the former exclaimed,
+"Why, there's Jonas, and what on airth has he got in his hands?"
+
+Betsy ran to the window and looked out.
+
+"I guess it's a head of lettuce," said she.
+
+At that moment the door opened and Jonas Hawkins entered, bearing a huge
+head of lettuce in his hand.
+
+"Wall, Marthy," said Mr. Hawkins, "how did the man from Bosting like his
+breakfast? I kalkilated them fresh-laid eggs would suit him to a T."
+
+"He ain't got up yet," replied Mrs. Hawkins.
+
+"Must have been putty tired," continued Mr. Hawkins. "I kinder envy him.
+Do yer know, Marthy, if I wuz rich I wouldn't 'git up any day till it
+wuz time to go to bed agin." And he laughed loudly at his own remark.
+
+"What do yer expect me to do with that head of lettuce?" asked Mrs.
+Hawkins with some asperity in her tone.
+
+"Wall," said Jonas, "I was over to Hill's grocery and he'd ordered some
+from Bosting for Mis' Putnam, but she's too sick to eat 'em, so Sam gave
+me this one, 'cause we're putty good customers, you know, and I
+kalkilated that if you made up one of them nice chicken salads o' yourn
+it might please the new boarder and the old ones too;" and chuckling to
+himself he laid the lettuce on the kitchen table and walked out into the
+wood-shed. In a few moments he was vigorously at work chopping wood,
+whistling to himself as he worked.
+
+"Mr. Hawkins is an awful good-natured man, isn't he?" asked Betsy.
+
+"Yes," replied Mrs. Hawkins, "he's too all-fired good-natured for his
+own good. If I'd known him twenty-five years ago he'd have money in the
+bank now. His fust wife wuz slacker'n dish water. But I guess we've
+talked enough for one mornin', Betsy. You jest git that chicken I boiled
+and bone it and chop it up, and I'll make the dressin'."
+
+When twelve o'clock sounded from the bell in the church tower, dinner
+was on the table at Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house. By five minutes past
+twelve there were fourteen seated at the table, with one vacant chair.
+Professor Strout sat at the head of the table. At his left was Abner
+Stiles, while Robert Wood sat next to Stiles. The vacant seat was at the
+Professor's right hand, and all eyes were turned toward it, for all had
+heard of the Boston man who had arrived the night before, but who, much
+to their disappointment, had not appeared at breakfast.
+
+At ten minutes past twelve the door leading into the dining-room from
+the front entry was opened quietly, and the young man who entered,
+seeing the vacant chair near the head of the table, took possession of
+it.
+
+For a moment nobody looked up, each apparently waiting for some one else
+to take the initiative.
+
+Quincy, for it was he, broke the silence, and immediately every face at
+the table was turned towards him.
+
+"How do you do, Professor?" said he. "Good afternoon, Mr. Stiles and Mr.
+Wood. Ah, glad to see you, Mr. Hill," he added, as he espied Samuel Hill
+at the farther end of the table.
+
+The Professor's face grew crimson, then bright red, and finally assumed
+a bluish tinge. Abner sat transfixed. The others at the table had a
+charming diversity of expressions on their faces, ranging from "grave to
+gay, from lively to severe." No one at the table enjoyed the situation
+any more than Samuel Hill, who was very fond of a joke and who knew of
+Quincy's intention to meet his enemy at close quarters.
+
+For several minutes no one spoke. Betsy flew from one to the other
+waiting upon table, but a solemn hush seemed to have fallen upon the
+dinner party. Again Quincy broke the silence.
+
+"I trust, gentlemen," said he, "that you will not let my presence
+interfere with your usual conversation. I have no doubt Mr. Stiles can
+tell us a good story, and I am equally sure that Professor Strout has
+some entertaining bit of village gossip that he would like to
+circulate."
+
+Here Samuel Hill purposely dropped his fork upon the floor and was
+obliged to get under the table to recover it, Betsy assisting him in the
+search. When they emerged from under the table their faces were red with
+their exertions.
+
+As we have seen on other occasions, the Professor was very quick in
+rescuing himself from any dilemma into which he might be thrown. He saw
+an opportunity to divert attention from himself and speedily improved
+it.
+
+"I think I'll have to walk over and see Miss Tilly James this
+afternoon," said the Professor.
+
+At this shot at Samuel Hill and Betsy everybody laughed, including
+Quincy, and thus the ice was broken.
+
+"I've heard some pretty big lies told in my life," said Robert Wood,
+"but I think Abel Coffin, yer know him, Professor, old Jonathan Coffin's
+son, the one that goes carpenterin', he lives over in Montrose, yer
+know, can beat anybody we've got in this town, not exceptin' you,
+Stiles;" and he gave the latter a nudge with his elbow that nearly
+knocked him out of his chair.
+
+"Tell us the story, Robert," said the Professor, who had recovered his
+self-complacency; "we're dyin' to hear it."
+
+"Well," continued Robert Wood, "Abel had been shinglin' a house, and I
+told him there wuz a place where he'd left off a shingle. Abel laughed
+and, sez he, 'If I hadn't better eyesight than you've got I'd carry a
+telescope 'round with me.' 'Well,' sez I, thinkin' I'd fool him, 'let's
+see which one of us has got the best eyesight.' I pointed up to the
+ridgepole of the house, which was 'bout a hundred feet off from where we
+stood, and sez I to Abel, 'Can you see that fly walkin' along on the
+ridgepole near the chimney? I ken.' Abel put his hand up back of his
+ear, and sez he, 'No, I can't see him, but I can hear him walkin'
+'round.'"
+
+As Robert concluded, a loud shout of laughter went up from the table.
+Quincy had no desire to be considered "stuck up," so he joined in the
+laugh, although he had heard the story in a different form before.
+
+So had the Professor, and he never allowed an old story to be told in
+his presence without working in two lines of doggerel which he had
+composed, and of which he was very proud. So, turning to Robert Wood he
+said patronizingly, "That was very well told, Robert. The story is an
+old one, but you worked it up very nicely; but," continued the
+Professor, "as I have often remarked on similar occasions:
+
+    It makes no difference whether a story's new or old,
+    Everything depends on the way it's told."
+
+Turning quickly to Quincy he said, "No doubt Mr. Sawyer can favor us
+with a story that we've never heard before."
+
+Quincy was a little taken aback, for the appeal was unexpected, but he
+quickly recovered his self-possession and said in a low but pleasant
+voice, "I am afraid that my story will have to depend on the way it is
+told rather than upon its novelty." He wondered if his hearers were
+acquainted with the travels of Baron Munchausen, but decided to try the
+experiment. "About a year ago," resumed Quincy, "I went down to Maine on
+some law business. I transacted it, but had to travel some ten miles to
+the county town to record my papers. I had a four-wheeled buggy, and a
+strong, heavily-built horse. It began to snow very fast after I started,
+but I knew the road and drove steadily on. As I approached the county
+town I noticed that the snow was deeper than the highest building in the
+town, in fact, none of the town was visible, excepting about three feet
+of the spire of the tallest church in the place."
+
+Quincy stopped and glanced about the table. Every eye was fastened upon
+him, and all, including the Professor and Stiles particularly, were
+listening intently. Quincy continued his story:
+
+"I was well supplied with buffalo robes, so after tying my horse firmly
+to the weather vane on the spire, I made up a bed on the snow with my
+buffalo robes, and slept soundly and comfortably all night. When I woke
+in the morning I was still enveloped in the robes, but found to my
+surprise that I was lying upon the ground. I looked around, but there
+was no sign of snow anywhere. I arose and looked about for my horse and
+buggy, but they were not in sight. Then I remembered that I had tied my
+horse to the weather vane. Casting my eyes upward I saw my horse and
+buggy hanging by the strap, the horse having secured a footing on the
+side of the spire. Happily I had a revolver with me, and with one shot I
+severed the broad leathern strap. Naturally the horse and buggy fell to
+the ground. I put my buffalo robes back into the buggy, rode to the
+court house, had my papers recorded, and then drove back ten miles to
+town, none the worse for my adventure, but the stableman charged me
+fifty cents for the strap that I was obliged to leave on the church
+spire."
+
+A number of low whistles, intermixed with several "whews!" were heard,
+as Quincy finished his story.
+
+"Wall, by thunder!" ejaculated Stiles, "how do yer account for--"
+
+"I think it must have been a sudden thaw," remarked Quincy, with a grave
+face.
+
+"One thing puzzles me," said the Professor.
+
+"What is that?" asked Quincy politely, "perhaps I can explain."
+
+"Before you left the church," asked the Professor, "why didn't you reach
+up and ontie that strap?"
+
+Another loud shout of laughter broke from the company, and Quincy,
+realizing that the Professor had beaten him fairly by putting a point on
+his own story, joined heartily in the laugh at his own expense.
+
+"That reminds me," said Abner Stiles, "of an adventure that I had
+several years ago, down in Maine, when I wuz younger and spryer'n I am
+now."
+
+"How old be you?" said the Professor.
+
+"Wall," replied Abner, "the family Bible makes me out to be fifty-eight,
+but jedgin' from the fun I've had I'm as old as Methooserlar."
+
+This remark gave Stiles the preliminary laugh, which he always counted
+upon when he told a story.
+
+"Did yer ever meet a b'ar?" asked he, directing his remark to Quincy.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, "I've stood up before one many a time."
+
+"Well, really," exclaimed Abner, "how'd yer come off?"
+
+"Usually with considerable less money than when I went up," replied
+Quincy, seeing that Abner was mystified.
+
+"What?" said Abner. "I mean a real black b'ar, one of those big, shaggy
+fellers sech as you meet in the woods down in Maine."
+
+"Oh," said Quincy, "I was talking about an open bar, such as you find in
+bar-rooms and hotels."
+
+This time the laugh was on Abner, and he was considerably nettled by it.
+
+"Go on, Abner, go on!" came from several voices, and thus reassured, he
+continued:
+
+"Wall, as I wuz goin' to say, I was out partridge shooting down in Maine
+several years ago, and all I had with me was a fowlin' piece and a pouch
+of bird shot. In fact, I didn't have any shot left, for I'd killed 'bout
+forty partridges. I had a piece of strong twine with me, so I tied their
+legs together and slung 'em over my shoulder. I was jest goin' to start
+for hum when I heerd the boughs crackin' behind me, and turnin' 'round I
+saw--Geewhillikins!--a big black b'ar not more'n ten feet from me. I had
+nothin' to shoot him with, and knew that the only way to save my life
+wuz to run for it. I jest bent over and threw the partridges on the
+ground, thinkin' as I did so that perhaps the b'ar would stop to eat
+them, and I could git away. I started to run, but caught my toe in some
+underbrush and went down ker-slap. I said all the prayers I knew in
+'bout eight seconds, then got up, and started to run ag'in. Like Lot's
+wife, I couldn't help lookin' back, and there wuz the b'ar flat on his
+back. I went up to him kinder cautious, for I didn't know but he might
+be shammin', them black b'ars are mighty cute; but, no, he wuz deader'n
+a door nail. I took the partridges back to town, and then a party on us
+came back and toted the b'ar home."
+
+Every one sat quietly for a moment, then Quincy asked with a sober face,
+"What caused the bear's death; was it heart disease?"
+
+"No," said Abner, "'twas some sort of brain trouble. Yer see, when I
+threw those partridges onter the ground it brought a purty powerful
+strain onto my galluses. When we cut the b'ar up we found one of my
+pants buttons right in the centre of his brain."
+
+Abner's story was greeted with those signs of approval that were so dear
+to his heart, and Quincy, realizing that when you are in Rome you must
+do as the Romans do, was not backward in his applause.
+
+All eyes were now turned to the Professor.
+
+"I don't think," said he, "that I can make up a lie to match with those
+that have jist been told, but if any of you are enough interested in the
+truth to want to listen to a true story, I kin tell you one that came
+under my observation a few days ago."
+
+All looked inquiringly at Strout, but none spoke.
+
+"Wall," said he, "I s'pose I must consider as how silence means consent,
+and go ahead. Wall" he continued, "you all know, or most all on yer do,
+old Bill Tompkins, that lives out on the road to Montrose. This
+occurrence took place early las' summer. Old Bill hisself is too
+close-mouthed to let on about it, but when I was over there the other
+day, arter givin' Lizzy Tompkins her music-lesson, I got talkin' with
+her mother, and one thing led to another, and finally I got the whole
+story outer her. Old Bill had a cow that they called 'Old Jinnie.' She
+was always mischeevous, but last year she'd been wusser'n ever. She'd
+git out of the barn nights, and knock down fences, and tramp down flower
+gardens, and everybody said she wuz a pesky noosance. One night old Bill
+and his family wuz seated 'round the centre table in the sittin'-room.
+There wuz Mary, his wife; and George, his oldest boy, a young fellow
+about eighteen; Tommy, who is a ten-year-older, and little Lizzy, who is
+about eight. George wuz readin' somethin' out of a paper to 'em, when
+they heerd a-runnin' and a-jumpin', and old Bill said, 'That varmint's
+got out of the barn and is rampagin' 'round agin,' The winder curt'ins
+wuz up, and old Jinnie must 'a' seed the light, for she run pell-mell
+agin the house, and drove her horns through the winder, smashin' four
+panes. Old Bill and George managed to git her back inter the barn and
+tied her up.
+
+"As they wuz walking back to the house, old Bill said, 'Consarn her
+picter, I'll make beef o' her to-morrer or my name ain't Bill Tompkins,'
+When they got back to the settin'-room, George said, 'How be yer goin'
+ter do it, dad?' 'Why, cut her throat,' said Bill. 'You can't do it,'
+said George, 'the law sez yer must shoot her fust in the temple,' 'All
+right,' said old Bill, 'you shoot and I'll carve,' So next mornin' they
+led old Jinnie out with her head p'inted towards the barn. George had
+loaded up the old musket, and stood 'bout thirty feet off. George
+didn't know just edzactly where the cow's temple wuz, but he imagined it
+must be somewhere atween her eyes, so he fired and hit her squar' in the
+forehead. That was enough for old Jinnie, she jist ducked her head, and
+with a roar like the bull of Bashan she put for George. He dropped the
+musket and went up the ladder inter the haymow livelier'n he ever did
+before, you kin bet. Old Jinnie struck the ladder and knocked it
+galley-west. Old Jinnie then turned 'round and spied little Tommy. He
+put, and she put arter him. There wasn't nothin' else to do, so Tommy
+took a high jump and landed in the pig-sty. Old Bill is kinder deef in
+one ear, and he didn't notice much what wuz goin' on on that side of
+him. He was runnin' the grindstone and puttin' a good sharp edge on his
+butcher knife, when he happened to look up and seed old Jinnie comin'
+head on. He dropped the knife and started for the house, thinkin' he'd
+dodge in the front door. Over went the grindstone and old Jinnie, too,
+but she wuz up on her feet ag'in quicker'n scat. She seemed to scent the
+old man, for when she got to the front door she turned in and then
+bolted right into the parlor. Old Bill heerd her comin', and he went
+head fust through the open winder, and landed in the orchard. He got up
+and run for a big apple-tree that stood out near the road, and never
+stopped till he'd clumb nearly to the top. Little Lizzie gave a yell
+like a catamount and ran behind the pianner, which was sot out a little
+from the wall. Old Jinnie went bunt inter the planner and made a
+sandwich of Lizzie, who wuz behind it. Mis' Tompkins heard Lizzie
+scream, and come to see what the matter was. When she see Jinnie she
+jist made strides for the wood-shed, and old Jinnie sashayed arter her.
+Mis' Tompkins went skitin' through the wood-shed. There wuz a pair of
+steps that led up inter the corn barn, and Mis' Tompkins got up there
+jist as old Jinnie walked off with the steps. Then old Jinnie took a
+walk outside and looked 'round as unconsarned as though nothin' had
+happened. Jist about this time one of them tin peddlers come along that
+druv one of them red carts with pots, and pans, and kittles, and brooms,
+and brushes, and mops hung all over it. He spied old Bill up in the
+tree, and sez he, 'What be yar doin', Farmer Tompkins?' 'Pickin'
+apples,' said old Bill. He don't waste words on nobody. 'Ain't it rather
+early for apples?' inquired the peddler. 'These are some I forgot to
+pick last fall,' replied old Bill. 'Anythin' in my line?' said the
+peddler. 'Ain't got no money,' said Bill. 'Hain't you got something you
+want to trade?' asked the peddler. 'Yes,' said Bill, 'I'll swap that cow
+over yonder; you kin have her for fifteen dollars, an' I'll take it all
+in trade,' 'Good milker?' said the man. 'Fust-class butter,' said old
+Bill. 'What do you want in trade?' said the man. 'Suit yerself,' said
+Bill, 'chuck it down side of the road there.' This was soon done, and
+the peddler druv up front of old Jinnie and went to git her, so as to
+tie her behind his waggin. She didn't stop to be led. Down went her head
+agin and she made for the peddler. He got the other side of his team
+jist as old Jinnie druv her horns 'tween the spokes of the forrard
+wheel. Down come the pots, and pans, and kittles, in ev'ry direction. A
+clotheshorse fell on the horse's back and off he started on a dead run,
+and that wuz the end of poor Jinnie. Before she could pull back her
+horns, round went the wheel and broke her neck. The peddler pulled up
+his horse and went back to see old Bill, who was climbin' down from the
+apple tree. 'What am I goin' to do about this?' said the peddler. 'I wuz
+countin' on drivin' her over to the next town and sellin' her or tradin'
+her off, but I hain't got no use for fresh beef.' 'Wall,' said old Bill,
+'considering circumstances we'll call the trade off. You kin keep your
+stuff and I'll keep my beef.' The peddler loaded up and druv off. Then
+old Bill went in and pulled Lizzie out from behind the pianner, and put up
+the steps so Mrs. Tompkins could come down from the corn barn, and
+fished Tommy out of the pig-sty, and threw a bucket of water over him,
+and put up the ladder so George could git down from the haymow, and they
+all got round poor old Jinnie and stood as hard as they could and
+laughed." Here Professor Strout pushed back his chair and rose to his
+feet. "That's how old Bill Tompkins got his beef."
+
+There was a general laugh and a pushing back of chairs, and the whole
+company arose and went in various directions to their afternoon work.
+Professor Strout went into the front entry, for he always entered and
+left the house by the front door. Quincy followed him, and closing the
+door that led into the dining-room, said, "Mr. Strout, I would like to
+see you in my room for half an hour on important business."
+
+"I guess 'tain't as important as some business of my own I've got to
+attend to this arternoon. I'm goin' over to the Centre to fix up my
+accounts as tax collector with the town treasurer."
+
+"I think my business is fully as important as that," said Quincy, "it
+relates to your appointment as postmaster."
+
+"Oh, you've got a hand in that, have yer?" asked Strout, an angry flush
+suffusing his face.
+
+"I have both hands in it," replied Quincy imperturbably, "and it rests
+with you entirely whether I keep hold or let go."
+
+"Wall," said Strout, looking at his watch, "I kin spare you half an
+hour, if it will be as great an accommodation to yer as yer seem to
+think it will."
+
+And he followed Quincy upstairs to the latter's room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+A SETTLEMENT.
+
+
+When they entered the room Quincy motioned Strout to a chair, which he
+took. He then closed the door and, taking a cigar case from his pocket,
+offered a cigar to Strout, which the latter refused. Quincy then lighted
+a cigar and, throwing himself into an armchair in a comfortable
+position, looked straight at the Professor, who returned his gaze
+defiantly, and said:
+
+"Mr. Strout, there is an open account of some two month's standing
+between us, and I have asked you to come up here to-day, because I think
+it is time for a settlement"
+
+"I don't owe you nuthin'," said Strout, doggedly.
+
+"I think you owe me better treatment than you have given me the past two
+months," remarked Quincy, "but we'll settle that point later."
+
+"I guess I've treated you as well as you have me," retorted Strout, with
+a sneer.
+
+"But you began it," said Quincy, "and had it all your own way for two
+months; I waited patiently for you to stop, but you wouldn't, so the
+last week I've been squaring up matters, and there is only one point
+that hasn't been settled. From what I have heard," continued Quincy, "I
+am satisfied that Miss Mason has received full reparation for any
+slanderous remarks that may have been started or circulated by you
+concerning herself."
+
+The Professor attentively regarded the pattern of the carpet on the
+floor.
+
+Quincy continued, "Miss Lindy Putnam has repeated to me what she told
+Mr. Stiles about her visit to Boston, and attributed the distorted and
+untrue form in which it reached the inhabitants of this town to your
+well-known powers of invention. Am I right?"
+
+The Professor looked up. "I'll have somethin' to say when you git
+through," he replied.
+
+"I expect and ask no apology or reparation for what you've said about
+me," remarked Quincy. "You made your boast that one of us had got to
+leave town, and it wouldn't be you. When I heard that I determined to
+stay at whatever cost, and we'll settle this afternoon which one of us
+is going to change his residence."
+
+"I don't think you kin run me out o' town," said Strout, savagely.
+
+"Well, I don't know," rejoined Quincy. "Let us see what I have done in a
+week. You insulted Mr. Pettengill and his sister by not inviting them to
+the surprise party. I know it was done to insult me rather than them,
+but you will remember that we three were present, and had a very
+pleasant time. I was the lawyer that advised Deacon Mason not to loan
+that five hundred dollars to pay down on the store. I told the Deacon I
+would loan him five hundred dollars if the store was knocked down to
+you, but I would have had that store if it had cost me ten thousand
+dollars instead of three. I was the one who put your war record in the
+hands of Mr. Tobias Smith, and I was the one that prepared the statement
+which showed how negligent you had been in attending to your duties as
+tax collector."
+
+"Payin' so much attention to other people's business must have made yer
+forget yer own," said Strout, shutting his teeth together with a snap.
+
+"Oh, no," remarked Quincy, with a laugh; "I had plenty of time left to
+take a hand in village politics, and my friend Mr. Stackpole was elected
+by a very handsome vote, as you have no doubt heard." Strout dug his
+heel into the carpet, but said nothing.
+
+"Now," continued Quincy, "I've had your appointment as postmaster held
+up till you and I come to terms."
+
+"You're takin' a lot of trouble for nothin'," said Strout. "I can't be
+postmaster unless I have a store. I guess I kin manage to live with my
+music teachin' and organ playin' at the church."
+
+"I've thought of that," said Quincy. "I don't wish to go to extremes,
+but I will if it is necessary. Before you leave this room, Mr. Strout,
+you must decide whether you will work with me or against me in the
+future."
+
+"S'posin' I decide to work agin yer?" asked Strout; "what then?"
+
+"Well," said Quincy sternly, "if you drive me to it, I'll bring down a
+couple of good music teachers from Boston. They'll teach music for
+nothing, and I'll pay them good salaries. The church needs a new organ,
+and I'll make them a present of one, on condition that they get a new
+organist."
+
+Strout looked down reflectively for a few minutes, then he glanced up
+and a queer smile passed over his face. "S'posin' I switch 'round," said
+he, "and say I'll work with yer?"
+
+"If you say it and mean it, Mr. Strout," replied Quincy, rising from his
+chair, "I'll cross off the old score and start fresh from to-day. I'm no
+Indian, and have no vindictive feelings. You and I have been playing
+against each other and you've lost every trick. Now, if you say so,
+we'll play as partners. I'll give you a third interest in the grocery
+store for a thousand dollars. The firm name shall be Strout & Maxwell.
+I'll put in another thousand dollars to buy a couple of horses and
+wagons, and we'll take orders and deliver goods free to any family
+within five miles of the store. Maxwell will have a third, and I'll have
+a third as silent partner, and I'll see that you get your appointment
+as postmaster."
+
+Quincy looked at Strout expectantly, awaiting his answer. Finally it
+came.
+
+"Considerin' as how you put it," said Strout, "I don't think you and me
+will clash in the futur'."
+
+Quincy extended his hand, which Strout took, and the men shook hands.
+
+"That settles it," said Quincy.
+
+"Just half an hour!" exclaimed Strout, looking at his watch.
+
+A loud knock was heard on the door.
+
+"I guess Abner has got tired o' waitin' and has come arter me," remarked
+Strout.
+
+Quincy opened the door and Mr. Stiles stood revealed.
+
+"Is Professor Strout here?" asked he.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy; "come in."
+
+"I guess I'll see him out here," continued Abner. "What I've got to say
+may be kinder private."
+
+"Come in, Abner," cried Strout, "and let's hear what's on your mind."
+
+"Wall," said Abner, looking askance at Quincy, "if yer satisfied, I am.
+Hiram Maxwell's jest came down from Mis' Putnam's, and Mis' Heppy
+Putnam's dead,"--Quincy started on hearing this,--"and Samanthy Green is
+at her wits' end, 'cause she never was alone in the house with a dead
+pusson afore, an' Hiram's goin' to take Betsy Green back to stay with
+her sister, and then he's goin' to take Miss Alice Pettengill down home,
+cuz Miss Pettengill's most tired out; cuz, you see, she's been there
+since eight o'clock this mornin', and Mis' Putnam didn't die till about
+one o'clock, and Samanthy says Mis' Putnam took on awful, so you could
+hear her all over the house, and Miss Lindy Putnam, she's goin' to take
+the next train to Bosting--she's goin', bag and baggage--and I've got to
+drive her over to the station, and Bob Wood, he's comin' along with a
+waggin to carry her trunks and bandboxes and sich, and so I've come to
+tell yer, Professor, that I can't take yer over to the Centre this
+arternoon, no how."
+
+"That's all right, Abner," said Strout; "considerin' as how things has
+gone, to-morrow will do just as well, but I wish you'd drop in and tell
+the town treasurer that I'm goin' into business with Mr. Maxwell and Mr.
+Sawyer here,"--Abner's eyes dilated,--"under the firm name of Strout,
+Maxwell, & Co."
+
+"No!" interrupted Quincy, "let the sign read, Strout & Maxwell."
+
+"And," continued Mr. Strout, "Mr. Sawyer here is goin' to push through
+my app'intment as postmaster."
+
+By this time Abner's mouth was wide open. Quincy saw it, and imagined
+the conflict going on in poor Abner's mind.
+
+"What Mr. Strout says is correct," remarked Quincy, "but you have no
+time to lose now. Perhaps to-night Mr. Strout will explain the matter
+more fully to you."
+
+Abner turned, without a word, and left the room.
+
+"Mr. Stiles is a faithful friend of yours," said Quincy, turning to the
+Professor.
+
+"Yes," assented Strout; "Abner's a very good shaft horse, but he
+wouldn't be of much vally as a lead."
+
+Quincy again extended his cigar case. This time the Professor did not
+refuse, but took two. Holding up one of them between his fingers, he
+said, "This is the one I didn't take when I came in."
+
+"I will have the partnership papers drawn up in a few days, Mr. Strout,
+ready for signature, and I will write at once to my friends in
+Washington, and urge them to see the Postmaster General, and have your
+appointment made as soon as possible."
+
+"Yer don't let no grass grow under yer feet, do yer?" said Strout.
+
+Quincy was a little taken aback by this remark, for he had not
+anticipated a compliment from the Professor. He turned to him and said,
+"Until you forfeit my esteem, we are friends, and it is always a
+pleasure to me to help my friends."
+
+The men shook hands again, and the Professor left the room.
+
+"Not a bad man at heart," soliloquized Quincy. "I am glad the affair has
+had such a pleasant termination. Poor Alice! What a time she must have
+had with Mrs. Putnam, and so Lindy is going to keep her word, and not
+stay to the funeral. Well, knowing what I do, I don't blame her. Perhaps
+Mrs. Putnam told Alice that Lindy was not her own child, for Alice would
+not accept the fortune, I know, if she thought she was wronging Lindy by
+doing so. I'll go home,"--he smiled as he said this,--"and probably
+Alice will tell me all about it."
+
+He went down stairs, and not seeing Mrs. Hawkins in the dining-room,
+walked out into the kitchen, where she was hard at work washing the
+dinner dishes.
+
+"Law, Mr. Sawyer, why didn't you holler for me ef you wanted anything?"
+
+"I don't wish for anything particularly," said Quincy, "but I do wish to
+compliment you on your chicken salad; it was as fine as any I ever ate
+at Young's, or Parker's, in Boston, and," continued he, "here are twelve
+dollars." He held out the money to her, she wiped her hands on her
+apron.
+
+"What's that fur?" she asked. "I've got six dollars of your money now."
+
+"That's for Mandy," said Quincy; "and this," pressing the money into her
+hand, "is for four weeks' room rent; I am liable to come here any time
+during the next month. I am going into business with Mr. Strout and Mr.
+Maxwell--we're going to run the grocery store over here, and it will be
+very handy to be so near to the store until we get the business
+established. Good afternoon, Mrs. Hawkins," and he took her hand, which
+was still wet, in his, and shook it warmly.
+
+He turned to leave the house by the kitchen door, but Mrs. Hawkins
+interposed.
+
+"You better go out the front way," said she, and she ran before him and
+opened the door leading to the front entry, and then the front door. As
+he passed out, she said, "I wish you success, Mr. Sawyer, and we'll gin
+you all our trade."
+
+"Thank you!" said Quincy. He walked down the path, opened the front
+gate, and as he closed it raised his hat to Mrs. Hawkins, who stood in
+the front doorway, her thin, angular face wreathed in smiles.
+
+"Wall," said she, as she closed the front door and walked back into the
+kitchen, "what lies some folks tell. Now, that Professor Strout has
+allus said that Mr. Sawyer was so stuck up that he wouldn't speak to
+common folks. Wall, I think he's a real gentleman. 'Twon't do for any
+one to run him down to me after this."
+
+Here she thought of her money, and, spreading out the three bills in her
+hand, she opened the kitchen door and screamed at the top of her voice,
+"Jonas! Jonas!! Jonas!!!" There were no signs of Jonas. "Where is that
+man? He's never 'round when he's wanted."
+
+"What is it, Marthy?" said a voice behind her. Turning, she saw her
+husband puffing away at his brierwood pipe.
+
+"I thought you went out to the barn," said she, "to help Abner hitch
+up?"
+
+"Wall, I did," he replied; "but it didn't take two on us long to do
+that. I eat so much chicken salad that it laid kinder heavy on my
+stummick, so I went out in the wood-shed to have a smoke. But where did
+you git all that money?"
+
+"Mr. Sawyer took the front room for two weeks and paid for it ahead, and
+do you know he said my chicken salad was jist as good as Mrs. Young and
+Mrs. Parker makes down to Bosting."
+
+"I don't know Mrs. Young nor Mrs. Parker," said Jonas, "but on makin'
+chicken salad I'll match Mrs. Hawkins agin 'em any day;" and he went out
+in the wood-shed to finish his smoke.
+
+As Quincy walked down the road towards the Pettengill house his mind was
+busy with his thoughts.
+
+"To think," said he to himself, "that while I was listening to those
+stories, to call them by no worse name, at the dinner table, the woman I
+love was witnessing the death agony and listening to the last words of a
+dear friend--the woman who's going to leave her a fortune. Now that she
+knows that she's an heiress, I can speak; she never would have listened
+to me, knowing that she was poor and I was rich, and I never could have
+spoken to her with that secret in my mind that Mrs. Putnam told me--that
+she was going to leave her all her money. I am so glad for Alice's sake,
+even if she does not love me. She can have the best medical attendance
+now, and she will be able to give all her time to her literary work, for
+which she has a decided genius. Won't she be delighted when I tell her
+that Leopold has placed all her stories and wants her to write a book?"
+
+As he reached the front gate he saw Hiram driving up the road and Alice
+was with him. As Hiram stopped, Quincy stepped forward and took Alice's
+hand to assist her in alighting from the buggy.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Sawyer," said she, "have you heard that Mrs. Putnam is dead,
+and I've had such a terrible day with her?"
+
+Her nervous system had been wrought to its highest tension by what she
+had undergone during the past six hours. She burst into a flood of
+tears. Then she tottered and would have fallen if Quincy had not grasped
+her.
+
+"Can you walk?" he asked.
+
+She took a step forward, but he saw at a glance that she had not
+sufficient strength to reach her room.
+
+"Open the gate, Hiram. Then give the door-bell a good sharp ring, so
+that Mandy will come quickly."
+
+He took her in his arms and went up the path, by the astonished Mandy,
+and upstairs to Alice's room, where he laid her tenderly upon her bed.
+Turning to Mandy, who had followed close at his heels, he said:
+
+"She is not sick, only nervous and worn out. If you need me, call me."
+
+He went into his own room and thanked Heaven that he had been at hand to
+render her the service that she so much needed. When he went down to
+supper Mandy told him that Miss Alice was asleep, and she guessed she'd
+be all right in the morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+AN INHERITANCE.
+
+
+Quincy reached his room at Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house about midnight
+of the day of the town meeting. About the same hour Mrs. Heppy Putnam
+awoke from a troubled sleep and felt a pain, like the thrust of a knife
+blade, through her left side. The room was dark and cold, the wood fire
+in the open grate having died out a couple of hours before, while a cool
+wind was blowing with great force outside.
+
+Mrs. Putnam came of the old stock which considered it a virtue to suffer
+and be silent, rather than call out and be saved. So she lay for five
+long hours suffering intense pain, but declaring to herself, with all
+the sturdiness of an old Roman warrior or an Indian chief, that she
+would not ask for any assistance "till it wuz time for folks to git up."
+
+This delay was fatal, or was destined to become so, but she did not know
+it; she had had colds before, and she had always got well. Why should'nt
+she now? It is a strange vagary of old people to consider themselves
+just as young as they used to be, notwithstanding their advanced years.
+To the majority of the old people, the idea of death is not so appalling
+as the inability to work and the incapacity to enjoy the customary
+pleasures of life.
+
+Mrs. Putnam had always been an active, energetic woman until she had
+lost her power to walk as the result of rheumatic fever; in fact, it was
+always acknowledged and said by the country folk that she was the better
+half of the matrimonial firm of Silas and Hepsibeth Putnam. Since her
+husband's failure to mount to Heaven on the day fixed for the Second
+Advent she had had entire control of the family finances. Her
+investments, many of which had been suggested by her deceased son, J.
+Jones Putnam, had been very profitable.
+
+She owned the house in which she lived, which was the largest, best
+finished, and best furnished one in the town of Eastborough. It occupied
+a commanding position on the top of a hill, and from its upper windows
+could be obtained a fine view of the surrounding country. The soil at
+Mason's Corner was particularly fertile, and this fact had led to the
+rapid growth of the village, which was three miles from the business
+centre of Eastborough, and only a mile from the similar part of the
+adjoining town of Montrose.
+
+Back of the Putnam homestead were the best barns, carriage houses, sheds
+and other outbuildings to be found in the town, but for years they had
+been destitute of horses, cattle, and other domestic animals.
+
+Mr. Putnam had disliked dogs because they killed sheep, and Mrs. Putnam
+detested cats. For years no chanticleer had awakened echoes during the
+morning hours, and no hens or chickens wandered over the neglected farm.
+The trees in the large orchard had not been pruned for a long time, and
+the large vegetable garden was overrun with grass and weeds.
+
+Back of the orchard and the vegetable garden, and to the right and left
+of the homestead, were about a hundred and sixty acres of arable pasture
+and wood-land, the whole forming what could be easily made the finest
+farm in the town.
+
+The farm had been neglected simply because the income from her
+investments was more than sufficient for the support of the family. The
+unexpended income had been added to the principal, until Mrs. Putnam's
+private fortune now amounted to fully fifty thousand dollars, invested
+in good securities, together with the house and farm, which were free
+from mortgage.
+
+When the first streaks of morning reached the room in which Mrs. Putnam
+lay upon her bed of pain, she seized one of her crutches, and pounded
+vigorously upon the floor. In a short time Samanthy Green entered the
+room. She was buttoning up her dress as she came in, and her hair was in
+a dishevelled condition.
+
+"Why, what on earth's the matter? You wheeze like our old pump out in
+the barn. You do look real sick, to be sure."
+
+"Wall, if you don't like the looks of me," said Mrs. Putnam sharply,
+"don't look at me."
+
+"But didn't you pound?" asked Samanthy. "Don't you want me to go for the
+doctor?"
+
+"No," replied Mrs. Putnam, "I don't want no doctor. The fust thing that
+I want you to do is to go and comb that frowzy pate of yourn, and when
+you git that done I want yer to make me a mustard plaster 'bout as big
+as that;" and she held up her hands about a foot apart. "Now go, and
+don't stand and look at me as though I wuz a circus waggin."
+
+Samanthy left the room quickly, but she had no sooner closed the door
+when Mrs. Putnam called out her name in a loud voice, and Samanthy
+opened the door and looked in.
+
+"Did you call, marm?" she asked.
+
+"Of course I did," said Mrs. Putnam testily. "I guess ye wouldn't have
+come back if yer hadn't known I did."
+
+Mrs. Putnam was evidently in a bad temper, and Samanthy had learned by
+years of experience to keep a close mouth under such circumstances, so
+she waited for Mrs. Putnam's next words without replying. Finally Mrs
+Putnam spoke. "I wish you'd bring up some wood and start a fire, the
+room's kinder cold."
+
+When Samanthy reached the kitchen she found Lindy there.
+
+"Why, Miss Lindy," said she, "what are you up so early for?"
+
+"I heard mother pounding and I thought she might be sick."
+
+"She is awful sick," rejoined Samanthy; "I never saw her look so poorly
+afore; she seems to be all choked up. She wants a big mustard plaster
+and a fire up in her room, and I don't know which to do fust. Oh!" she
+cried, "I must comb my hair before I go back;" and she wet a brush and
+commenced brushing out her long brown hair, which, with her rosy cheeks,
+formed her two principal claims to good looks.
+
+"Sit down," said Lindy, "and I'll fix your hair up much quicker than you
+can do it yourself."
+
+"And much better, too," added Samanthy thankfully.
+
+"While you're building the fire," continued Lindy, "I'll mix up the
+mustard plaster."
+
+When Samanthy entered the chamber with the materials for the fire, Mrs.
+Putnam opened her eyes and said sharply, "Did yer bring that plaster?"
+
+"No," said Samanthy, "I thought I would build the fire fust."
+
+"Wall," said Mrs. Putnam, "I want the plaster fust, and you go right
+down stairs and mix it up quick."
+
+When Samanthy returned to the kitchen she found that Lindy had the
+plaster all ready. Samanthy took it, and started upstairs.
+
+Lindy said to her, "Don't tell her that I made it." As she said this she
+stepped back into the kitchen and closed the door.
+
+As Samanthy approached the bedside with the plaster, Mrs. Putnam looked
+up and asked, "Did you make that plaster, Samanthy?"
+
+"Yes'm," replied Samanthy.
+
+"You're lyin', Samanthy Green, and you know yer are. You can't fool me.
+Didn't I hear yer talkin' to somebody in the kitchen?"
+
+"Yes'm," assented Samanthy.
+
+"Wall," rejoined Mrs. Putnam, "of course I know who it wuz yer wuz
+talkin' to. Did she make the plaster?"
+
+"Yes'm," again assented Samanthy.
+
+"Give it to me," said Mrs. Putnam.
+
+Samanthy passed it to her, and the old lady crumpled it in her hand's
+and threw it across the room. "Now go down stairs, Samanthy Green, and
+make me a mustard plaster, as I told yer to, and when I git up outer
+this I'll see if I can't git somebody to wait on me that kin tell the
+truth 'thout my havin' to help 'em."
+
+In the course of half an hour the new plaster was made and applied, and
+a bright fire was shedding its warmth into the room.
+
+"Go down stairs and git yer breakfast," said Mrs. Putnam. "'Tis a trifle
+early, but I hearn tell that lyin' makes people hungry."
+
+As Samanthy gave her an inquiring look, Mrs. Putnam said, "No, I don't
+want nothin' to eat or drink nuther, but when yer git the dishes washed
+I want yer ter go on an errand for me."
+
+It was half past six when Samanthy Green again stood in Mrs. Putnam's
+room.
+
+"I want yer to go right down to Zeke Pettengill's and tell his sister
+Alice that I want her to come right up here. Tell her it's my las'
+sickness, and I won't take 'no' for an answer. Be sure you put it to her
+jest as I do; and Samanthy," as Samanthy opened the door and was leaving
+the room, "say, Samanthy, don't git anybody to do the errand for you."
+
+About ten minutes after Samanthy left the house, Lindy Putnam entered
+the sick room. Mrs. Putnam's pain had been relieved somewhat by the
+mustard, and this relief restored, to a great extent, her usual vigor of
+mind.
+
+"What are you up here for?" cried Mrs. Putnam, a look of displeasure
+clouding her face.
+
+"I knew Samanthy had gone out, and so I came up to see if I could do
+anything for you, mother."
+
+"Don't mother me. I ain't your mother, and I mean everybody shall know
+it soon's I'm dead."
+
+"I've had to say mother before other people," explained Lindy, "and
+that's why I forgot myself then. Pray excuse me."
+
+"Oh, don't put on yer citified airs when yer talkin' to me. Ain't yer
+glad I'm goin' ter die?"
+
+"I hope you will get better, Mrs. Putnam," answered Lindy.
+
+"You know better," rejoined Mrs. Putnam. "You'll be glad when I'm gone,
+for then you kin go gallivantin' 'round and spend the money that my son
+worked hard fur."
+
+"I've used very little of it," said Lindy; "less than the interest; I
+have never touched the principal."
+
+Lindy still remained standing at the foot of the bed.
+
+"Didn't yer hear me say I didn't want nuthin'?" asked Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"I will leave the room then," replied Lindy quietly.
+
+"I wish you would," said Mrs. Putnam, "and you'll do me a favor if
+you'll pack yer duds as quick as yer can and git out of the house and
+never come back agin."
+
+"I will leave the room, but I cannot leave the house while you are
+alive," remarked Lindy firmly.
+
+"Why not?" said Mrs. Putnam. "I want to die in peace, and I shall go
+much easier if I know I haven't got to set my eyes on your face agin."
+
+"I promised Jones," said Lindy, "that I would never leave you while you
+were alive."
+
+"Oh, you promised Jones, did yer?" cried Mrs. Putnam with a sneer.
+"Wall, Jones will let you off on yer promise jest to 'blige me, so yer
+needn't stay any longer."
+
+As Lindy walked towards the door, Mrs. Putnam spoke again.
+
+"Did yer ever tell anybody I wasn't yer mother?" Lindy hesitated. "Why
+don't you out with it," said Mrs. Putnam, "and say no, no matter if it
+is a lie? Samanthy can lie faster'n a horse can trot, and I know you put
+her up to it."
+
+"I have been impudent and disrespectful to you many times, Mrs. Putnam,
+when you were cross to me, but I never told you a deliberate lie in my
+life. I have told one person that you were not my mother."
+
+"What did yer do it fur?" asked Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"I wished to retain his good opinion," replied Lindy.
+
+"Who was it?" inquired Mrs. Putnam eagerly. Lindy did not answer. "Oh,
+you won't tell!" said Mrs. Putnam. "Wall, I bet I can guess; it's that
+feller that's boardin' over to Pettingill's."
+
+Mrs. Putnam saw the blood rise in Lindy's face, and she chuckled to
+herself.
+
+"What reason have you for forming such an opinion?" asked Lindy.
+
+"Wall, I can kinder put two and two together," said Mrs. Putnam. "The
+day Alice Pettengill came over here with him you two wuz down in the
+parlor together, and I had to pound on the floor three times afore I
+could make him hear. I knew you must be either spoonin' or abusin' me."
+
+It was with difficulty that Lindy kept back the words which rose to her
+lips, but she said nothing.
+
+"Did yer tell him that I wuz goin' to leave my money to some one else?"
+
+"It wasn't necessary," said Lindy, "I judged from some things that he
+said that you had told him yourself."
+
+"Did he tell you who it wuz?" persisted Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"No," said Lindy. "I did my best to find out, but he wouldn't tell me."
+
+"Good for him," cried Mrs. Putnam. "Then ye don't know?"
+
+"I can put two and two together," replied Lindy.
+
+"But where'd yer git the two and two?" asked Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"Oh, I have surmised for a long time," continued Lindy. "This morning I
+asked Samanthy where she was going, and she said down to Pettengill's.
+Then I knew."
+
+"I told her not to tell," said Mrs. Putnam, "the lyin' jade. If I git up
+off this bed she'll git her walkin' ticket."
+
+"She's ready to go," said Lindy; "she told me this morning that she'd
+wait until you got a new girl."
+
+Mrs. Putnam closed her eyes and placed both of her hands over her heart.
+Despite her fortitude the intense pain wrung a groan from her.
+
+Lindy rushed forward and dropped on her knees beside the bed. "Forgive
+me, Mrs. Putnam," said she, "but you spoke such cruel words to me that I
+could not help answering you in the same way. I am so sorry. I loved
+your son with all my heart, and I had no right to speak so to his
+mother, no matter what she said to me."
+
+The paroxysm of pain had passed, and Mrs. Putnam was her old self again.
+Looking at the girl who was kneeling with her head bowed down she said,
+"I guess both of us talked about as we felt; as for loving my son, yer
+had no right to, and he had no right to love you."
+
+"But we were brother and sister," cried Lindy, looking up.
+
+"'Twould have been all right if he'd let it stop there," replied Mrs.
+Putnam. "Who put it into his head that there was no law agin a man
+marryin' his adopted sister? You wuz a woman grown of eighteen, and he
+wuz only a young boy of sixteen, and you made him love yer and turn
+agin his mother, and then we had ter send him away from home ter keep
+yer apart, and then you ran after him, and then he died, and it broke my
+heart. You wuz the cause of it, but for yer he would be livin' now, a
+comfort to his poor old mother. I hated yer then for what yer did. Ev'ry
+time I look at yer I think of the happiness you stole from me, an' I
+hate yer wusser'n ever."
+
+"Oh, mother, mother!" sobbed Lindy.
+
+"I'm not your mother," screamed Mrs. Putnam. "I s'pose you must have had
+one, but you'll never know who she wuz; she didn't care nuthin' fer yer,
+for she left yer in the road, and Silas was fool enough to pick yer up
+and bring yer home. What yer right name is nobody knows, and mebbe yer
+ain't got none."
+
+At this taunt Lindy arose to her feet and looked defiantly at Mrs.
+Putnam. "You are not telling the truth, Mrs. Putnam," said the girl;
+"you know who my parents were, but you will not tell me."
+
+"That's right," said Mrs. Putnam, "git mad and show yer temper; that's
+better than sheddin' crocodile's tears, as yer've been doin'; yer've
+been a curse to me from the day I fust set eyes on yer. I've said I hate
+yer, and I do, an' I'll never forgive yer fer what yer've done to me."
+
+Lindy saw that words were useless. Perhaps Mrs. Putnam might, recover,
+and if she did not provoke her too far she might relent some day and
+tell her what she knew about her parents; so she walked to the door and
+opened it. Then she turned and said, "Good-by, Mrs. Putnam, I truly hope
+that you will recover."
+
+"Wall, I sha'n't," said Mrs. Putnam. "I'm goin' to die, I want ter die.
+I want ter see Jones; I want ter talk ter him; I want ter tell him how
+much I loved him--how much I've suffered through yer. I'm goin' ter tell
+him how I've hated yer and what fer, and when I git through talkin' to
+him, I'll guarantee he'll be my way o' thinkin'."
+
+As the old woman said this, with an almost superhuman effort she raised
+herself to a sitting posture, pointed her finger at Lindy, and gave
+utterances to a wild, hysterical laugh that almost froze the blood in
+the poor girl's veins.
+
+Lindy slammed the door behind her, rushed to her own room, locked the
+door, and threw herself face downward upon the bed. Should she ever
+forget those last fearful words, that vengeful face, that taunting
+finger, or that mocking laugh?
+
+Samanthy took Alice up to Mrs. Putnam's room about eight o'clock. Alice
+knelt by the bedside. She could not see the old lady's face, but she
+took her withered hands in hers, and caressed them lovingly, saying,
+"Aunt Heppy, I am sorry you are so sick. Have you had the doctor?"
+
+The old lady drew the young girl's head down close to her and kissed her
+upon the cheek. "The docter kin do me no good. I've sent fer yer becuz I
+know yer love me, and I wanted to know that one person would be sorry
+when I wuz gone."
+
+"I'm so sorry," said Alice, "that I cannot see to help you, but you are
+not going to die; you must have the doctor at once."
+
+"No," said Mrs. Putnam, "I want to die, I want to see my boy. I sent for
+you becuz I wanted to tell you that I am goin' to leave this house and
+farm and all my money to you."
+
+"To me!" cried Alice, astonished. "Why, how can you talk so, Aunt Heppy?
+You have a daughter, who is your legal heir; how could you ever think of
+robbing your own flesh and blood of her inheritance?"
+
+"She's no flesh and blood of mine!"
+
+"What!" cried Alice, "isn't Lindy your own child?"
+
+"No," said Mrs. Putnam savagely. "Silas and me didn't think we'd have
+any children, so we 'dopted her jest afore we moved down from New
+Hampshire and settled in this town."
+
+"Do you know who her parents were?" inquired Alice.
+
+"Alice, what did you do with that letter I gave you the las' time you
+were here?"
+
+"It is locked up in my writing desk at home," answered Alice.
+
+"What did yer promise to do with it?" said Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"I promised," replied Alice, "not to let any one see it, and to destroy
+it within twenty-four hours after your death."
+
+"And you will keep yer promise?" asked the old woman.
+
+"My word is sacred," said Alice solemnly.
+
+"Alice Pettengill," cried Mrs. Putnam, "if you break your word to me I
+shall be sorry that I ever loved you; I shall repent that I made you my
+heiress." And her voice rose to a sharp, shrill tone. "I'll haunt you as
+long as you live."
+
+The girl shrank back from her.
+
+"Don't mind a poor old woman whose hours are numbered, but you'll keep
+yer promise, won't yer, Alice?" And she grasped both Alice's hands
+convulsively.
+
+"Aunt Heppy," said Alice, "I've given you my promise, and I'll keep my
+word whatever happens. So don't worry any more about it, Auntie."
+
+For a few moments Mrs. Putnam remained quiet; then she spoke in clear,
+even tones. Not a word was lost upon Alice. "This adopted daughter of
+mine has been a curse to me ever since I knew her. She was two years
+older than Jones. They grew up together as brother and sister, but she
+wasn't satisfied with that, she fell in love with my son, and she made
+him love her. She turned him agin his mother. She found out that there
+wuz no law agin a man's marryin' his adopted sister. We had to send him
+away from home, but she followed him. She wuz goin' to elope with him,
+but I got wind of it, and I stopped that; then Jones died away from home
+and left her all his money. He wuz so bitter agin me that he put in his
+will that she was not to touch a dollar of my money, but better that
+than to have her marry him. I stopped that!" and the old woman chuckled
+to herself. Then her mood changed. "Such a marriage would 'a' been a sin
+agin God and man," she said sternly. "She robbed me of my son, my only
+boy, but I'll git even with her. She asked me this mornin' if I knew who
+her parents wuz. I told her no, that she was a waif picked up in a New
+Hampshire road, but I lied to her. I had to."
+
+"But do you know who they were?" said Alice.
+
+"Certainly I do," said Mrs. Putnam; "that letter you've got, and that
+yer promised to destroy, tells all about 'em, but she shall never see
+it. Never! Never!! Never!!!"
+
+Again she rose to a sitting posture, and again that wild, mocking laugh
+rang through the house. Lindy, still lying upon her bed in her room,
+heard it, shuddered, and covered her ears with her hands to shut out the
+terrible sound. Samanthy, in the kitchen, heard it, and saying to
+herself, "Mrs. Putnam has gone crazy, and only that blind girl with
+her," ran upstairs.
+
+When Mrs. Putnam uttered that wild laugh, Alice started from her chair
+with beating heart and a frightened look upon her face. As the door
+opened and Samanthy entered, Alice stepped forward. She could not see
+who it was, but supposing it was Lindy, she cried out, "Oh, Lindy, I'm
+so glad you've come!"
+
+Mrs. Putnam had fallen back exhausted upon her pillow; when she heard
+the name Lindy she tried to rise again, but could not. But her
+indomitable spirit still survived.
+
+"So you've come back, have you?" she shrieked. "Yer couldn't let me die
+in peace. You want to hear more, do you? Well, I'll tell you the truth.
+I know who your parents are, but I destroyed the letter; it's burned.
+That's what I had the fire built for this mornin'. You robbed me of my
+son and I've got even with yer." The old woman pointed her finger at
+poor Samanthy, who stood petrified in the doorway, and shrieked again,
+"Go!" and she pointed her withered finger toward the door, "and hunt for
+your parents."
+
+The astonished Samanthy finally plucked up courage to close the door;
+she ran to Lindy's room and pounded upon the door until Lindy was forced
+to admit her; then the frightened girl told Lindy what she had heard,
+and again the worse than orphan threw herself upon her bed and prayed
+that she, too, might die.
+
+Alice did not swoon, but she sank upon the floor, overcome by the horror
+of the scene. No sound came from the bed. Was she dead? Alice groped her
+way back to the chair in which she had previously sat; she leaned over
+and listened. Mrs. Putnam was breathing still--faint, short breaths.
+Alice took one of her hands in hers and prayed for her. Then she prayed
+for the unhappy girl. Then she thought of the letter and the promise she
+had made. Should she keep her promises to the dying woman, and thus be a
+party to the wronging of this poor girl?
+
+"Mrs. Putnam! Mrs. Putnam!! Aunt Heppy!!!" she cried; "take back your
+fortune, I do not want it; only release me from my oath. Oh, that I
+could send for that letter and put it back into her hands before she
+dies! If Mr. Sawyer were only here; but I do not know where to find
+him."
+
+For hours, it seemed ages to Alice, she remained by the bedside of the
+dying woman, seeing nothing, but listening intently, and hoping that she
+would revive, hear her words, and release her from that horrid oath.
+
+Suddenly, Alice started; the poor old wrinkled, wasted hand that she
+held in hers, was cold--so cold--she leaned over and put her ear above
+the old woman's lips. There was no sound of breathing. She pulled down
+the bed-clothes and placed her hand upon her heart. It was still. Mrs.
+Putnam had gone to meet the boy she had loved and lost.
+
+Feeling her way along the wall, she reached the door. Flinging it wide
+open, she cried, "Samantha! Lindy!"
+
+Samanthy came to the foot of the stairs.
+
+"What is it, Miss Pettengill?" asked she.
+
+"She's dead," said Alice, and she sank down upon the stairway.
+
+Samanthy ran quickly upstairs. She went first to Miss Lindy's room and
+told her that all was over; then she came back, went into Mrs. Putnam's
+room, pulled down the curtains, went to the bed and laid the sheet over
+Mrs. Putnam's face. She looked at the fire to see that it was safe, came
+out and closed the door. Then she helped Alice down stairs, led her into
+the parlor and seated her in an easy-chair.
+
+"I'll bring you a nice cup of hot tea," said she; "I've just made some
+for dinner."
+
+Lindy came down stairs and went to the front door. Hiram was there,
+smoking a cigar, and beating his arms to keep warm. He had been waiting
+outside for a couple of hours, and he was nearly frozen.
+
+"Mr. Maxwell," said Lindy; and Hiram came up the steps. "Mrs. Putnam is
+dead," said she. "She expired just a few moments ago, about one
+o'clock," she continued, looking at her watch. "I want you to go right
+down to Mrs. Hawkins's and bring Betsy Green back to stay with her
+sister; then tell Mr. Stiles to come up at once with the buggy and a
+wagon to carry my trunks to the station. Tell Mr. Stiles I am going to
+Boston on the next train. When you come back you can take Miss
+Pettengill home. She will be through her lunch by the time you get back.
+After you've taken her home, I want you to go and get Mrs. Pinkham, the
+nurse; tell her Mrs. Putnam, is dead, and that I want her to come and
+lay her out. Then drive over to Montrose and tell Mr. Tilton, the
+undertaker, that I want him to make all the arrangements for the
+funeral And take this for your trouble," said she, as she passed him a
+five dollar bill.
+
+"Oh, that's too much," cried Hiram, drawing back.
+
+"Take it," said Lindy, with a smile; "I have plenty more--more than I
+need--more than I know what to do with."
+
+As Hiram drove off he said to himself, "Lucky girl; she's mighty putty,
+too. I wonder that city feller didn't shine up to her. I s'pose she's
+comin' back to the funeral."
+
+As Lindy turned to go upstairs she looked into the parlor, and saw Alice
+sitting with her head bowed upon her hand. Her first impulse was to go
+in and try to justify herself in the eyes of this girl, with whom she
+knew that Mr. Sawyer was in love; but no, she was but a waif, with no
+name, no birthright, no heritage; that woman had cut her off from her
+people. Truly, she had avenged her fancied wrongs.
+
+So Lindy went upstairs to her room, and remained there until after Alice
+went home.
+
+When Abner Stiles returned from Eastborough, after having seen Lindy
+Putnam and all her belongings safe on board the Boston train, he stopped
+at the Putnam house to see if he could be of any further service. Mrs.
+Pinkham had arrived some time before, and had attended to those duties
+which she had performed for many years for both the young and old of
+Mason's Corner, who had been called to their long home. Mr. Tilton, the
+undertaker from Montrose, had come over immediately, and had given the
+necessary professional service which such sad occasions demand. Mrs.
+Pinkham called to Mr. Tilton, and he came to the door.
+
+"No; there is really nothing you can do, Mr. Stiles, unless you will be
+so kind as to drive around to Deacon Mason's, Mr. Pettengill's, and Mrs.
+Hawkins's, and inform them that the funeral will be from the church, at
+two o'clock Friday afternoon. I will see that you are paid for your
+services."
+
+Undertakers are naturally polite and courteous men. They step softly,
+speak low, and are even-tempered. Their patrons do not worry them with
+questions, nor antagonize their views of the fitness of things.
+
+When Abner reached his boarding house, after making his numerous calls,
+it was about five o'clock; as he went upstairs he noticed that the door
+of Strout's room was ajar. In response to his knock, the Professor said,
+"Come in."
+
+"Wall, how do find things?" said Abner, as he entered the room.
+
+"By lookin' for 'em," said the Professor, with a jaunty air.
+
+"Oh, yer know what I mean," said Abner, throwing himself into a chair
+and looking inquiringly at Strout. "What was goin' on this noon 'tween
+you and that city feller?"
+
+"Well, you see," continued Strout, "Mr. Sawyer and me have been at
+swords' points the las' two months over some pussonal matters. Well, he
+kinder wanted to fix up things, but he knew I wouldn't consent to let up
+on him 'less he treated me square; so I gets a third interest in the
+grocery store, the firm name is to be Strout & Maxwell, and I'm to be
+postmaster; so, you see, I got the best end after all, jest as I meant
+to from the fust. But, see here, Stiles, Mr. Sawyer and I have agreed to
+keep our business and our pussonal matters strictly private in the
+futer, and you mustn't drop a word of what I've told yer to any livin'
+soul."
+
+"I've carried a good many of yer secrets 'round with me," responded
+Abner, "and never dropped one of 'em, as far as I know."
+
+"Oh, yer all right, old man," said the Professor; "but, yer know, for
+the last two months our game has been to keep talkin'; now it will pay
+us best to keep our mouths shet."
+
+"Mine's shut," said Abner; "now, what do I git? That job in the grocery
+store that you promised me?"
+
+"Well, you see," said Strout, "when I made yer that promise, I expected
+to own the whole store, but now, yer see, Maxwell will want ter pick one
+of the men."
+
+"Yis, I see," said Abner; "but that leaves one fer you to pick, and I'm
+ready to be picked."
+
+"Yes, I know," answered Strout; "but the work is goin' to be very hard,
+liftin' barrels and big boxes, and I'm afraid you couldn't stand it very
+long."
+
+A disappointed look came over Abner's face; he mused for a moment, then
+he broke out, "Yes, I see; I'm all right for light work, sech as tellin'
+lies 'bout people and spyin' out their actions, and makin' believe I've
+seen things that I never heard of, and hearin' things that were never
+said; but when it comes to good, clean, honest work, like liftin'
+barrels and rollin' hogshead's, the other feller gets the job. All
+right, Professor!" said he, getting up and walking towards the door;
+"when you want anythin' in my line, let me know." And he went out and
+slammed the door behind him.
+
+As he went upstairs to his room, he said to himself, "I have sorter got
+the opinion that the Professor took what wuz given him, instid of
+gittin' what he asked fer. I kinder guess that it'll pay me to be much
+more partickler about number one in the futer than I've been."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+AUNT ELLA.
+
+
+Deacon Mason had an early caller Wednesday morning. He was out in the
+barn polishing up his silver-plated harness, for he was going to the
+funeral on Friday with his family. Hiram had given him notice that he
+would have to go up to the store at once. The Deacon didn't have anybody
+in mind to take Hiram's place, and thought he might as well get used to
+doing his own work until he came across the right party.
+
+He heard a voice. It said, "Good mornin', Deacon Mason;" and, looking
+up, he saw Abner Stiles standing before him.
+
+"Good mornin', Abner," answered the Deacon, pleasantly; "what does the
+Professor want?"
+
+"I don't know," said Abner; "I heerd that Hiram was goin' to leave yer,
+so I came 'round to see if yer wanted ter hire a man."
+
+"Do yer know of one?" asked the Deacon with a smile.
+
+"That's all right, Deacon," said Abner. "I don't blame yer fer havin'
+yer little joke. I've worked so long fer the Professor that I expect to
+have it flung up at me. But I've renounced the Evil One and all his
+wicked ways, and I want to be taken into a good Christian home, and
+eventooally jine the church."
+
+    "While the lamp holds out to burn,
+     The vilest sinner may return,"
+
+quoted the Deacon, as he hung up one piece of harness and took down
+another.
+
+"That's true as Gospel," said Abner; "and I hope you'll see it's your
+duty, as I've heerd Parson Howe say, to save the brand from the
+burnin'."
+
+"Well, you go in and talk to Mrs. Mason," said the Deacon; "she's the
+one that wants the work done, and if she's satisfied to give yer a
+trial, it's all the same to me."
+
+"Thank yer, Deacon," answered Abner. "There's one p'int in my favor,
+Deacon; I hain't got no girl, and I sha'n't take any of your time to go
+courtin';" and with this sly dig at Hiram, he went in to settle his fate
+with the Deacon's wife.
+
+On that same Wednesday morning all of the Pettengill family were
+together at the breakfast table. The conversation naturally turned to
+Mrs. Putnam's death, and Ezekiel remarked "that she was a nice old lady,
+and that she and his mother were great friends. It beats all," continued
+he, "the way Lindy has acted. Abner Stiles told me that she took the
+half-past three train to Boston, and he said Bob Wood took over an
+express wagon full of trunks. Samanthy Green told Stiles that Lindy
+hadn't left a single thing in the house that belonged to her, and it
+don't look as though she was comin' back to the funeral."
+
+During this recital, Alice listened intently. She flushed then grew
+pale, and finally burst into tears. All present, of course, attributed
+her agitation to her well known love for Mrs. Putnam.
+
+"Shall I go upstairs with you, Sis?" asked Ezekiel.
+
+"No," said Alice, drying her eyes, "I'm going into the parlor. I told
+Mandy to build a fire there, and I want you and Uncle Ike and Mr. Sawyer
+to come with me."
+
+When they were gathered in the parlor, Alice began her story. Every word
+said by the dead woman had burned itself deep into her memory, and from
+the time she entered the sick room until she fell exhausted upon the
+stairway, after calling loudly for Samanthy and Lindy, not a word was
+missing from the thrilling narrative. Her audience, including even
+Quincy, listened intently to the dramatically told story, and they could
+almost see the frenzied face, the pointed finger, and hear the wild,
+mocking laugh.
+
+For a few moments nothing was said. Finally, Ezekiel broke the silence.
+
+"Well, I guess," said he, "that will of her'n will stand, all right.
+Lindy's got enough of her own; she won't be likely to interfere; and I
+never he'rd of their havin' any other relatives."
+
+Then Uncle Ike spoke up. "I shall go to the funeral, of course, next
+Friday, and I shall expect to hear the Rev. Mr. Howe stand up in his
+pulpit and tell us what a good Christian woman Hepsy was; she was so
+kind and so benevolent, and so regardful of the feelings of others, and
+it wouldn't make a bit of difference if you went and told him what
+you've told us, Alice; he'd say just the same thing."
+
+"Oh, hush! Uncle Ike," cried Alice, pleadingly; "she was a good woman,
+excepting on that one point, and you must own that she had some
+provocation. Let me ask you a question, Uncle Ike. How far should
+promises made to the dead be kept?"
+
+"Just so far," replied Uncle Ike, "as they do not interfere with the
+just rights of the living. Where is that letter that she wanted you to
+destroy?" he asked.
+
+"Here it is," said Alice, and she took it from the bosom of her dress.
+
+"Well," said Uncle Ike, "if I were in your place I'd open that letter,
+read it, and if it was likely to be of any value to Miss Putnam in
+finding her parents or relatives, I'd hunt her up and give it to her.
+Mrs. Putnam owned up that she lied about it, and the whole thing, any
+way, may be a bluff. Perhaps it's only blank paper, after all."
+
+"No," said Alice, "I could never open it or read it. I laid awake all
+night, thinking about my promise, and I finally made up my mind that I
+would go to see Lindy this morning, and let her read it; but now she has
+gone away, and we do not know where to find her. What shall I do with
+this dreadful thing?" she cried, as she held the letter up in her hand.
+
+Quincy felt called upon to speak.
+
+"Miss Pettengill," said he, "I think I could find Miss Putnam for you."
+A slight flush arose to Alice's cheek which did not escape Quincy's
+notice. He continued, "When I went to Boston, last Saturday, I happened
+to meet her on the train. She told me then something of her story, and
+said she was going to leave the house forever, as soon as Mrs. Putnam
+died. She also told me that if I ever learned anything about her parents
+I could reach her by advertising in the Personal Column of the New York
+'Herald,' addressing 'Linda,' and signing it 'Eastborough.'"
+
+"And will you do this at once for me?" cried Alice, eagerly. "I am so
+thankful; you have taken such a load from my mind, Mr. Sawyer. How
+fortunate it was that you met her as you did?
+
+"I think Mr. Sawyer is about as lucky as they make 'em," remarked! Uncle
+Ike, with a laugh.
+
+"Kind fortune owes me one or two favors yet before I shall be entirely
+satisfied," said Quincy. "Now, Miss Pettengill, will you allow me to
+make a suggestion that will free you from the further care of this
+document?"
+
+"I don't care what is done with it," said Alice; "but no one but Lindy
+must read it."
+
+"That is any idea exactly," assented Quincy. "I will go to Boston on the
+noon train and send that advertisement to the New York 'Herald,' With
+your permission, I will turn that document over to a legal friend of
+mine. He will put it in an envelope and seal it up. He will write on the
+outside, 'To be delivered only to Miss Putnam, on the written order of
+Miss Alice Pettengill,' and it will repose quietly in his big safe until
+Miss Putnam is found."
+
+"That will do splendidly!" said Alice, with animation. "What magicians
+you lawyers are! You discover a way out of every difficulty."
+
+"Wait until you get one of those lawyers working against you," remarked
+Uncle Ike, "then you'll change your mind. Well, I s'pose now this
+matter's settled, I can go upstairs and have my morning smoke."
+
+"And I've got to go to the store," said Ezekiel to Uncle Ike, "and get
+some corn, or those chickens of your'n will swaller the hen coop." And
+both men left the room together.
+
+"If you can give me a little of your time, Miss Pettengill," said
+Quincy, "I have some news for you that I think will please you very
+much."
+
+"About my stories?" cried Alice.
+
+"Yes," replied Quincy. "Just before I went to Boston last Saturday I got
+a letter from Leopold, asking me to call on him as soon as convenient. I
+found him at home Sunday evening, and this is what he said. The New York
+house has accepted your series of eight detective stories, and will pay
+you twenty-five dollars for each of them. The house will send you a
+check from time to time, as they publish them. Leopold has accepted your
+long story for the magazine published by the house for which he is
+reader. He says Jameson will get your other story into one of the Sunday
+papers, and he will have his dramatic version ready for production next
+fall. He can't tell how much you will make out of these just yet; the
+magazine pays by the page and the newspaper by the column, and, of
+course, Jameson will give you part of his royalty, if he gets the play
+on."
+
+"Why, Mr. Sawyer, you are showering wealth upon me like another Count of
+Monte Cristo."
+
+"But you have not heard all," continued Quincy. "Leopold has placed your
+two songs with a music publishing house, and you will get a royalty on
+them in time. He says they don't pay any royalty on the first three
+hundred copies, and perhaps they won't sell; the public taste on sheet
+music is very fickle. Then, that composer, I can never remember his
+name, is at work on your poem, 'The Lord of the Sea.' He told Leopold he
+was going to make it his _opus vitae_, the work of his life, you know,
+and he is talking it up to the director of the Handel and Haydn
+Society."
+
+"How true it is," said Alice, "that gladness quickly follows sadness! I
+was so unhappy this morning", but now the world never looked so bright
+to me. You have brushed away all my sorrows, Mr. Sawyer, and I am really
+very happy to hear the good news that you have told me."
+
+"There is one sorrow that I have not yet relieved you of," continued
+Quincy.
+
+"And that?" asked Alice, brushing back the wavy golden hair from her
+forehead, and looking up at him with her bright blue eyes, which bore no
+outward sign of the dark cloud that dimmed their vision,--"and that
+is?"--she repeated.
+
+"That letter," taking the hand that held it in both of his own. "If I am
+to get that noon train I have no time to lose."
+
+"Before you take it," said Alice, "you must promise me that it shall not
+be opened, and no eye but Lindy's must ever rest upon it."
+
+"You have my word," he replied.
+
+"Then take it," said she; and she released her hold upon it.
+
+He took the letter with one hand, his other hand still retaining its
+grasp upon hers.
+
+"I go," said Quincy, assuming a bantering tone, "upon your quest, fair
+lady. If I return victorious, what shall be my reward?"
+
+"Gallant knights," said Alice, as she withdrew her hand from his, "do
+not bargain for their reward until they have fulfilled their trust."
+
+"I accept the reproof," said Quincy gravely.
+
+"It was not so intended, Sir Knight," responded Alice brightly; "so I
+will make amends by answering your query. If you return successful, tell
+me what you would prize the most, and even if it be half my kingdom, it
+shall be yours."
+
+"I am content, but modern locomotives do not wait even for gallant
+knights of old. So adieu."
+
+He quitted the room, and Alice stood where he had left her until she
+heard the rumble of wheels as he drove off for the station; then she
+found her way to her chair before the fire, and her mind wove the
+outline of a romantic story, in which there was a gallant knight and a
+lovely maiden. But in her story the prize that the knight asked when he
+returned successful from his quest was the heart and hand of the lovely
+maiden.
+
+Jim Cobb went over to Eastborough Centre, so as to drive the team back.
+Before going to the station, Quincy stepped into the post office and
+found a letter addressed to him in a peculiar, but familiar,
+handwriting.
+
+"From Aunt Ella," he said. "I will read it after I get on the train."
+
+Quincy's Aunt Ella was Mrs. Robert Chessman, his mother's widowed
+sister.
+
+As soon as the train started Quincy opened his letter. It was short and
+to the point.
+
+"My DEAR QUINCY:--Maude gave me your address.
+What are you doing in a miserable, little country town in
+the winter? They are bad enough in the summer, but in
+March!--'Bah! Come and see me at once, you naughty
+boy!                                 AUNT ELLA."
+
+"Dated yesterday," said Quincy; "how fortunate. I will go up to Mt.
+Vernon Street to-morrow noon and take lunch with her."
+
+When Quincy reached Boston he went directly to his father's office. The
+Hon. Mr. Sawyer was not present, but his partners, Mr. Franklin
+Crowninshield and Mr. Atherton Lawrence, were busily engaged. Quincy
+took a seat at the desk which, he had occupied before going to
+Eastborough, and wrote out his advertisement for the New York "Herald."
+It read as follows: "Linda. Important paper discovered; communicate at
+once with Q.A.S., Eastborough."
+
+He enclosed a check to cover a fortnight's insertion; then walked down
+State Street to the post office to mail his letter. When he returned,
+Mr. Lawrence informed him that his father was in his private office. His
+father greeted him pleasantly, but not effusively; in fact, any marked
+exhibition of approval or disapproval was foreign to the Sawyer
+character, while the Quincys were equally notable for their reticence
+and imperturbability.
+
+"When shall we have the pleasure of your continued presence at home?"
+asked the father.
+
+"To-night," replied Quincy, with a smile, "I shall be with you at
+dinner, stay all night, and take breakfast with you."
+
+"I trust your long visit will not oblige you to neglect other more
+important matters," said the father.
+
+"Oh, no!" answered Quincy. "I have looked out for that."
+
+"And when do you think your health will allow you to resume your
+position in the office?" inquired the Hon. Nathaniel.
+
+"That is very uncertain," replied Quincy.
+
+"If you do not intend to come back at all," continued the father, "that
+would simplify matters. I could then make room for a Harvard graduate to
+study with us."
+
+Quincy reflected. He had been taught by his father not to give a
+positive answer to any question on the spur of the moment, if more time
+could be taken, as well as not, for consideration. So, after a few
+moments of thought, Quincy said, "I will write you in the course of ten
+days or a fortnight, and give you a positive answer."
+
+"That will be entirely satisfactory," answered his father. "As you are
+going out, will you kindly tell Mr. Crowninshield that I wish to consult
+with him?"
+
+Quincy knew that the interview had expired by limitation. He went home,
+but found that his mother and sisters were out riding.
+
+"They will return in time for dinner," said Delia, the parlor maid.
+
+Quincy went into the parlor and opened the grand piano. He sat down
+before it, touched a few of the keys casually, then sang, with great
+expression, the song by J.R. Thomas entitled "Pleasant Memories." He
+next wandered into the library, and took down and glanced at several
+books that he had devoured with avidity when a boy of sixteen. Then he
+went upstairs to his own room, which he had occupied since he was eight
+years old. It looked familiar, everything was in its accustomed place;
+still, the room did not look homelike. Strange as it may seem, Quincy
+had been happier in the large west chamber, with its old-fashioned
+bureau and carpet and bed, than he had ever been in this handsomely
+furnished apartment in the Beacon Street mansion. There was no wide
+fireplace here, with ruddy embers, into whose burning face he could look
+and weave fanciful dreams of the fortune and happiness to be his in the
+future.
+
+He spent a pleasant evening with the family. His father was present, but
+passed the time in reading the newspapers and a legal brief that he
+wished to more closely examine. His mother was engrossed in a new novel,
+but no approving smile or sympathetic tear demonstrated any particular
+interest in the fates of the struggling hero or suffering heroine.
+
+Florence sat at the piano, and, in response to Quincy's request that she
+would give him some music, played over some chromatic scales and
+arpeggios. He declared that they reminded him of grand opera, which
+remark sent Maude into a fit of satirical laughter, and Florence up to
+her room in a pout.
+
+Then Maude fell to asking Quincy questions about himself, to which he
+returned evasive and untruthful answers, until she was, as she said,
+completely disgusted. Then she dropped her head upon his shoulder, and
+with the arms of the brother whom she dearly loved clasped around her,
+she went to sleep. He looked at the sweet girlish face and thought, not
+of her, but of Alice.
+
+Next morning he was up early, for he knew that a busy day was before
+him. The last thing before retiring, and the first thing upon getting
+up, he examined his inside vest pocket, to see if that precious letter,
+that priceless trust that he had given his knightly word to deliver, was
+safe.
+
+He breakfasted early, and eight o'clock found him in Bowdoin Square, at
+the corner of Green and Chardon Streets. His first visit was to a safe
+manufactory, a few doors from the corner, where he purchased one for the
+firm of Strout & Maxwell.
+
+After traversing both sides of Friend Street, he finally settled upon
+two horses, stout country roadsters, and left an order for their
+shipment to Eastborough Centre, when they were notified that the wagons
+were ready. He bought the wagons in Sudbury Street. They had red bodies
+and yellow wheels, and the words, "Strout & Maxwell, Mason's Corner,
+Mass.," were to be placed on them in gold letters.
+
+These tasks completed, Quincy walked up Tremont Row by Scollay's
+Building. Crossing Pemberton Square, he continued up Tremont Street
+until he came to the building in which was the law office of Curtis
+Carter, one of his law school chums.
+
+"Hello, Curt!" said he, as he entered the somewhat dingy office.
+
+"Well, 'pon honor, Quincy," cried Curtis, "the sight of you is good for
+sore eyes, and I've got such a beastly cold that I can't see with one
+eye and can't read with the other."
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I came in here intending to consult you
+professionally, but I don't think a blind lawyer will answer my
+purpose."
+
+"Oh, I shall be all right in a few minutes," replied Curtis. "I dropped
+into Young's as I came up and took an eye-opener. What's the matter, old
+fellow, breach of promise?"
+
+Quincy took a seat near Curtis's desk.
+
+"No," said he, "it's a case of animosity carried beyond the grave."
+
+"Oh! I see," said Curtis, "party cut off with a shilling, going to try
+and break the will?"
+
+"Have a cigar?" asked Quincy. "While you are lighting it and getting it
+under way I may slide in and get a chance to state my business."
+
+"Oh! you want to do the talking?" said Curtis good humoredly. "Well, go
+ahead, old man;" and he leaned back and smoked complacently.
+
+Quincy then related as much as he thought necessary of the story of the
+sealed letter, and as he concluded he took the package from his pocket
+and placed it on the corner of the lawyer's desk.
+
+"You are doing just right," said Curtis; "the probate judges nowadays
+are looking more carefully at wills, especially when their provisions
+indicate that the signer was more red Indian than white Christian. I
+understand you perfectly," he continued; "what you wish me to do is to
+put this letter in an envelope, seal it securely, and endorse upon it
+these words, 'To be delivered only to Miss Lindy Putnam upon the written
+order of Miss Alice Pettengill.'"
+
+"That's it exactly," said Quincy; "only I wish a receipt from you for
+the document."
+
+"Certainly," replied Curtis. As he raised the lid of his old-fashioned
+desk the letter fell to the floor. The envelope had received rough
+treatment in its progress from hand to hand, and it was not strange that
+when it struck the floor one corner was split open by the fall.
+
+As Quincy stooped to pick it up, he noticed that something that
+resembled a small piece of white cloth dropped from the broken corner of
+the envelope. When he picked it up to replace it, he saw that it was a
+small piece of white cotton cloth, and his quick eye caught the name
+"Linda Fernborough" stamped thereon with indelible ink. He said nothing,
+but replacing the piece of cloth passed the package to Curtis, who
+enclosed, sealed, and endorsed it, and gave a receipt therefor to
+Quincy.
+
+"I will put this in my big steel vault," said he, as he went into
+another room.
+
+Quincy knew that Curtis would accept no fee for such a slight service,
+so placing a five dollar greenback under a paperweight, he quietly left
+the office and was out of sight long before Curtis, with the bill in his
+hand, ran down stairs, bareheaded, and looked up and down the street in
+search of him.
+
+Five minutes later Quincy reached his aunt's house. A "Buttons," dressed
+in blue livery, opened the door, and Quincy was ushered into the long
+parlor, which ran the full depth of the house, some sixty feet, in which
+he had passed many pleasant evenings. He sent up his card, and in a few
+moments Buttons returned and delivered the speech which Mrs. Chessman
+had taught him and which he had learned by heart: "Mrs. Chessman desires
+that you will come up at once."
+
+Quincy bounded upstairs, to the evident astonishment of Buttons, and
+made his way to the front chamber, which he knew was his aunt's room.
+She loved the sunlight, and it was a constant visitor in that room,
+summer and winter. His aunt did not greet him with a "how do you do?"
+and a hand-shake. Instead of such a formal reception, she gave him a
+hearty hug and kissed him three times, once on the forehead, then on
+the cheek, and finally on the lips, in which latter osculation Quincy
+took part.
+
+His aunt led him to an easy-chair, then threw herself upon a lounge
+opposite to him. She eyed him attentively for a moment.
+
+"Quincy," said she, "you are better looking than ever; you're almost as
+good looking as Robert was, and he was the handsomest man I ever saw.
+How many different country girls have you kissed since you saw me last?"
+
+"I kept the count," said Quincy, "till I went to a surprise party a week
+ago Monday, and then I lost it."
+
+"Of all the kisses that you have had, whose do you prize the most?"
+
+"Those from my beloved Aunt Ella," replied Quincy.
+
+Aunt Ella smiled and said, "You know how to keep on the right side of an
+old woman who has got money."
+
+"I didn't think of that until you called my attention to it," said
+Quincy gravely.
+
+"And I didn't believe it when I said it," added Aunt Ella. A few moments
+later she rang and ordered a light lunch. When this was over she went to
+an old secretary with brass handles, opened a drawer, and took out a
+cigar box.
+
+"I have a few of Robert's cigars left," she said.
+
+Quincy took one and resumed his seat in the easy-chair.
+
+Aunt Ella opened another drawer in the secretary and took out a pouch of
+tobacco, a package of rice paper and a box of wax tapers. She put these
+articles on a small diamond-shaped table and placed the table between
+Quincy and herself. She handed Quincy the match-box, then deftly rolling
+a cigarette, she lighted it, leaned back upon the lounge and blew rings
+of smoke into the air, which she watched until they broke.
+
+"Do you think it's horribly unbecoming for me to smoke?" she asked,
+looking at Quincy.
+
+"Do you wish me to express my real thoughts?" replied Quincy, "or
+flatter you because you have money?"
+
+Aunt Ella reddened a little, then said, "A good shot, Quincy, but I
+deserve it. Go on."
+
+"Well, Aunt Ella," said he, "you are the only woman whom I ever saw
+smoke who, in my opinion, knew how to do it gracefully."
+
+"I think you are sincere," she rejoined, "and I beg pardon for wounding
+your feelings as I did before. Give me your hand on it."
+
+They shook hands as two men would have done after settling differences.
+
+Then she said, "Now draw your chair up closer, Quincy, and tell me what
+you've been doing, and what other people have been doing to you since
+the day before Christmas, the last time I set eyes on you until to-day.
+You know I am your mother confessor."
+
+Quincy complied, and in his quiet, concise way gave her a full account
+of his doings in Eastborough, omitting nothing, concealing nothing. If
+anything, he gave fuller details of his acquaintance with Huldy, Lindy,
+and Alice than he did of the other portions of his story. He could not
+forbear to give at full length the account of his final settlement with
+the Professor.
+
+Aunt Ella laughed heartily at some parts of the recital, and looked
+sorrowful and sympathetic when she listened to other portions. She
+rolled and smoked half a dozen cigarettes during its continuance, and
+when she saw that Quincy had finished his cigar she placed the remainder
+of the box before him.
+
+When he closed she said, "Quincy, you're a brick. I haven't enjoyed
+myself so much for years. I do so love anything that isn't commonplace,
+and your experience is both novel and interesting. What a dear old man
+Deacon Mason is, and Ezekiel Pettengill is a fine young fellow, honest
+and square. That Hiram and Mandy must be a team. Are they going to get
+married?"
+
+"I think so," said Quincy. "He stammers, you know, and I think he is
+afraid he will break down when he tries to propose."
+
+Aunt Ella laughed heartily; then she said, "What a constitutional liar
+that Stiles must be, and as for the Professor, I would like to have a
+set-to with him myself."
+
+As she said this she doubled up her fists.
+
+"Oh, he wouldn't meet you that way," said Quincy. "He only fights with a
+woman's weapon, his tongue;" and he told her of his little boxing match
+with Robert Wood.
+
+Aunt Ella continued: "I can imagine what a pretty, sweet, little country
+girl Huldy Mason is. My heart aches for Lindy, her martyrdom has been
+out of all proportion to her contemplated wrongdoing, if wrongdoing it
+really was. Had I been in her place I would have married Jones and left
+my clothes behind; and then," said Aunt Ella, "how my heart goes out to
+that dear, sweet girl that you call Alice! Do you love her, Quincy?"
+
+"Devotedly," answered Quincy, "I never really loved a woman before."
+
+"Then marry her," cried Aunt Ella decidedly.
+
+"Everybody at home but Maude will object," said Quincy.
+
+"Maude's the best one in the family, next to yourself," snapped Aunt
+Ella.
+
+"They will bring up Uncle Jim," continued Quincy.
+
+"Nonsense!" replied Aunt Ella. "Uncle Jim was a fool; any man is a fool
+who thinks he can win the battle of life by making a sot of himself.
+Bring this girl to me, Quincy. She must be a genius, if she can write as
+you say she can. Let me care for her and love her and make life pleasant
+and beautiful for her until you get ready to do it yourself."
+
+"I will, some day, Aunt Ella. You are the best friend I have in the
+world, and when I have the right to bring Alice to you, I will lose no
+time in doing so. Thank you for your kind words about her. I shall never
+forget them, and she shall hear them some day. But I must go now."
+
+They both arose, "Promise that you will come and see me every time you
+are in Boston, Quincy; if you don't, I shall come down to Eastborough to
+see you."
+
+She gave him another kiss at parting.
+
+As he left the house he deliberated for a moment as to where he should
+go next. It was half-past four. He decided to go to Leopold's lodgings
+in Chestnut Street. He found him at home, but for a wonder he was not
+working.
+
+"This is an off day with me," he explained; "this is our haying season,
+and I've been working nights, days, and Sundays for a fortnight."
+
+"I came to express Miss Pettengill's obligations and thanks for your
+kind and very successful efforts in her behalf."
+
+"Oh! that's all right," said Leopold. "By the way, have you told her she
+ought to write a book?"
+
+"Not yet," said Quincy; "but I'm going to soon. She has just lost a dear
+friend; but I won't forget it."
+
+"Don't!" repeated Leopold. "She is a diamond that ought to be dug up,
+cut, and set in eighteen carat gold. Excuse my apparently brutal
+language, but you get my meaning."
+
+"Certainly," said Quincy; "and you are not working to-day."
+
+"No," replied Leopold; "loafing and enjoying it, too. I've a good mind
+to turn vagrant and loaf on, loaf ever."
+
+"Come down to Parker's and have dinner with me."
+
+"Can't do it," replied Leopold; "my stomach is loafing, too. 'Twouldn't
+be fair to make it work and do nothing myself. Just as much obliged.
+Some other day. Don't forget the book," he cried, as Quincy left the
+room.
+
+Quincy took his dinner at Parker's, caught the five minutes past six
+express, and reached Eastborough Centre at half-past seven. Abbott Smith
+drove him home to the Pettengill house.
+
+The next day was Friday. Everybody at Mason's Corner, with quite a
+number from Eastborough and Montrose, came to Mrs. Putnam's funeral. The
+little Square in front of the church, as well as the shed, was filled
+with teams. While waiting for the arrival of the body, quite a number of
+the male residents of Mason's Corner were gathered upon the steps of the
+church.
+
+Strout spied Abner Stiles and approached him. "Bob Wood has jest told
+me," said the Professor, "that he has decided not to leave his present
+place, so I've concluded on second thoughts to give yer that job at the
+grocery store."
+
+Abner's eyes twinkled.
+
+"I've had my second thoughts, too," said he, "I've hired out to Deacon
+Mason for life, and if I jine the church he says I can work for him in
+the next world. So I kinder guess I shall have to decline yer kind
+invitation to lift boxes and roll barrels."
+
+When the services were over every person in the church passed up the
+centre aisle to take a last view. Her husband had been buried in the
+Montrose cemetery, and she had told Mr. Tilton that she was to be laid
+by his side. The Eastborough cemetery was in West Eastborough, and for
+that reason many of the late residents of Mason's Corner slept their
+last sleep at Montrose.
+
+As they stood by the coffin, Alice said, "How does she look?"
+
+"Very pleasant," replied Quincy; "there is a sweet smile upon her face."
+
+"I am so glad," said Alice. She pressed his arm a little tighter, and
+looking up to him, she said, "Perhaps she has met her boy, and that
+smile is but the earthly reflection of the heavenly one that rests upon
+her face in her home above."
+
+"I hope so," replied Quincy; and they walked slowly out of church and
+took their places on the rear seat of the Pettengill carryall, Ezekiel
+and Uncle Ike sitting in front.
+
+Mandy Skinner and Mrs. Crowley had not gone to the funeral The latter
+was busy skimming cream from a dozen large milk pans, while Mandy sat
+before the kitchen stove, with Swiss by her side. She was thinking of
+Hiram, and wondering if he really intended to ask her to marry him.
+
+"I don't think he's been foolin' me, but now he's goin' into business I
+should think it was about time for him to speak up or quit."
+
+Swiss suddenly arose, sniffed and went to the kitchen door. The door was
+opened softly and some one entered the room. Mandy did not turn her
+head. Perhaps she guessed who it was. Then some one placed a chair close
+to Mandy and took a seat beside her.
+
+"Say, M-m-m-m-m-a-andy," said Hiram, "will you please read this to me?
+It's an important document, and I want to be sure I've got it jest
+right." As he said this he passed Mandy a folded paper.
+
+She opened it and the following words met her eye: "This is to certify
+that I, Hiram Maxwell, of Mason's Corner, in the town of Eastborough,
+county of Normouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby declare my
+intention to ask Miss Amanda Skinner of the village, town, county, and
+state aforesaid, to become my lawful wedded wife."
+
+"Oh, you big silly!" cried Mandy, dropping the paper, for she didn't
+think it necessary to read any further.
+
+"Is it all right?" cried Hiram, "it cost a quarter to git it drawn up.
+Then I swore to it before old Squire Rundlett over to Montrose, and it
+ought ter hold water. You'd better keep it, Mandy, then I can't fling it
+up at yer that I never axed yer to marry me."
+
+"Who told you that?" asked the girl indignantly.
+
+"Ma Hawkins. Well, she didn't exactly say it to me, but she spoke it out
+so loud to Betsy Green that I heered it clear out in the wood-shed and
+I'll tell yer what, Mandy, it kinder made me mad."
+
+"Well, it's all right now," said Mandy soothingly.
+
+"Is it?" asked Hiram, his face beaming with delight.
+
+The next instant there was a succession of peculiar sounds heard in the
+room. As Swiss came back from the kitchen door but one chair was needed
+for the happy couple, and an onlooker would have thought that chair was
+occupied by one person with a very large head, having light curly hair
+on one side and straight dark hair on the other, no face being visible.
+
+It was upon this picture that Mrs. Crowley looked as she opened the door
+leading into the kitchen and started to come into the room with a large
+pan full of cream.
+
+Astonished, she stepped backward, forgetting the two steps that she had
+just ascended. Flat upon her back she fell, the pan of cream drenching
+her from head to foot.
+
+"It's drownded I am! It's drownded I am!" she cried at the top of her
+voice.
+
+"What's the matter? How did it happen?" said Mandy, as she rushed into
+the room, followed by Swiss.
+
+"Shure it's thinkin' I was," moaned Mrs. Crowley, "when the milk fell on
+me."
+
+"Thinkin' of what?" cried Mandy sharply. "You couldn't have been
+thinkin' of your business."
+
+"Shure I was thinkin' of the day when Pat Crowley and I both sat in the
+same chair, forty years ago," said Mrs. Crowley, rising to her feet and
+wiping the cream from her eyes, and nose, and ears.
+
+During this time Swiss was busily engaged having a rich feast upon the
+cream left in the pan. Hiram appeared at the kitchen door to learn the
+cause of Mandy's absence.
+
+Raising her hands high in the air, Mrs. Crowley said, "Bless you, my
+darlints; may yer live long and may all the saints pour blessin's on yer
+hids."
+
+And with this invocation the poor old woman hobbled off to her room in
+the ell and was not seen again until the next morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+THE WEDDIN'S.
+
+
+The next day was Saturday. While the Pettengill family was at breakfast,
+Squire Rundlett arrived. He had driven over from Montrose with the
+partnership papers for Strout, Hiram, and Quincy to sign and also the
+will of the late Mrs. Hepsibeth Putnam.
+
+As he came into the kitchen he espied Mandy, and a broad smile spread
+over his face as he said, "Good morning, Miss Skinner, was that paper
+all right?" Mandy flushed scarlet but said nothing. "Honestly, Miss
+Skinner," said the Squire, "I think it was a very sensible act on
+Hiram's part. If men were obliged to put their proposals in writing
+there wouldn't be any more breach of promise cases."
+
+"I think he was a big goose," finally ejaculated Mandy, laughing in
+spite of herself.
+
+"At any rate," continued the Squire, "he knew how to pick out a smart,
+pretty little woman for a wife;" and he raised his hat politely and
+passed into the dining-room.
+
+Here he was asked to have some breakfast. He accepted a cup of coffee,
+and, while drinking it, informed Quincy and Alice of the twofold purpose
+of his visit.
+
+Quincy led Alice into the parlor, the Squire accompanying them. Quincy
+then retired, saying he would join the Squire in a short time and ride
+up to the store with him.
+
+When they were alone, the Squire informed Alice that by the terms of
+Mrs. Putnam's last will she had been left sole heiress of all the real
+and personal property of the deceased. The dwelling house and farm were
+worth fully ten thousand dollars, while the bonds, stocks, and other
+securities, of which he had had charge for many years, were worth at
+least forty thousand more. For several years Mrs. Putnam's income had
+been about twenty-five hundred dollars a year.
+
+"It was very kind of her to leave it to me," said Alice; "I have never
+done anything to deserve it and I would not take it were it not that I
+understand there are no near relatives, and that Miss Lindy Putnam was
+amply provided for by her brother."
+
+There was a knock upon the door, and Quincy looked in.
+
+"Come in, Mr. Sawyer," said the Squire. "I have an important bit of news
+for you that concerns this young lady."
+
+Quincy did as requested and stood expectantly.
+
+The Squire went on: "Mrs. Putnam's old will, made some six years ago,
+gave all the property to Miss Pettengill, but provided that its
+provisions should be kept secret for ninety days. In that will I was
+named as sole executor."
+
+"Why did she change it?" asked Alice earnestly.
+
+"I don't know," replied the Squire. "About three weeks ago she sent for
+me and cut out the ninety-day restriction and named our young friend
+here as co-executor with myself."
+
+Alice remained silent, while a look of astonishment crept into Quincy's
+face.
+
+"I do not quite comprehend her reason for making this change," remarked
+Quincy.
+
+"Mrs. Putnam was a very far-seeing lady," said the Squire, with a laugh,
+looking first at Alice and then at Quincy.
+
+A slight flush mounted to Alice's cheeks, and Quincy said coolly, "I do
+not perceive the application of your remark."
+
+"Easy enough," said the Squire, seeing that he had put his foot in it,
+and that it was necessary to explain his false step in some way; "easy
+enough. I have had sole charge of her property for six years, and she
+wished some cool-headed business man to go over my accounts and see if I
+had been honest in my dealings with her."
+
+"That way of stating the case is satisfactory," said Quincy, a little
+more genially.
+
+"I don't think I am in danger of being robbed with two such trusty
+guardians," said Alice.
+
+Then all three laughed, and the little rift was closed. But the Squire's
+words had not been unheeded and two hearts were busily thinking and
+wondering if he had really meant what he said.
+
+The Squire then turned to Quincy. "If you will name a day we will go
+over to the county town, present the will for probate, and at any time
+thereafter my books will be ready for inspection."
+
+Quincy named the following Wednesday, and then both men congratulated
+Miss Pettengill on her good fortune, bade her good morning, and then
+started to go to the store.
+
+As they passed through the kitchen Mandy was not in sight. She evidently
+did not intend to have a second interview with the Squire.
+
+When they reached the store they found Strout and Hiram and Mr. Hill and
+his son already there. The business with Mr. Hill was soon concluded,
+and he delivered the keys of the property to Squire Rundlett; then the
+co-partnership papers were duly signed and witnessed, and then the
+Squire passed the keys to Mr. Obadiah Strout, the senior partner of the
+new firm of Strout & Maxwell, who formally took possession of the
+property in his own name and that of his partners.
+
+Since Abner's curt declination of a position in the store, Strout had
+been looking around for some one to take his place, and had finally
+settled upon William Ricker, or, as he was generally called, Billy
+Ricker, a popular young resident of Montrose, as it was thought he could
+control a great deal of trade in that town.
+
+For a similar reason, Quincy and Hiram had united in choosing young
+Abbott Smith, who was known by everybody in Eastborough Centre and West
+Eastborough. Abbott had grown tired of driving the hotel carriage and
+wished to engage in some permanent business.
+
+The choice was naturally not particularly palatable to Strout, but he
+had consented to let bygones be bygones and could offer no valid
+objection. These two young men were to report for duty that Saturday
+evening, and the close of that day's business terminated Benoni and
+Samuel Hill's connection with the grocery store.
+
+Sunday morning all of the Pettengill family went to church and listened
+to a sermon by Mr. Howe, the minister, from the text, "Blessed are the
+peacemakers, for they shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven."
+
+As they were driving home, Uncle Ike remarked in his dry, sarcastic way,
+"I s'pose Mr. Howe was thinkin' of Mrs. Putnam when he was praisin' the
+peacemakers; it's a fashion in the country, I understand, the Sunday
+after a funeral to preach in a general way about the departed one."
+
+"Mrs. Putnam has been very kind to me," protested Alice, "and you should
+forgive her for my sake."
+
+"I'll forgive her," said Uncle Ike, "when the wrong she has done has
+been righted." He shut his teeth together sharply, faced the horses
+again, and lapsed into silence.
+
+In the afternoon Quincy joined Alice in the parlor, and they sang some
+sacred music together.
+
+Quincy picked up a book from the table and said, "Why, Miss Pettengill,
+by this turned down corner I imagine there are some thirty pages of this
+very interesting story, 'The Love of a Lifetime,' that I have not read
+to you. Would you like to have me finish it this afternoon?"
+
+"I have been afraid to hear the last chapter," said Alice. "I fear
+Herbert and Clarice will both die, and I so hate a book with a sad
+ending. Why don't authors keep their lovers alive--"
+
+"Marry them off and let them live happily ever afterward," Quincy
+concluded.
+
+"I don't think I could ever write a book with a sorrowful conclusion,"
+mused Alice.
+
+Quincy saw the opportunity for which he had long waited.
+
+"Why don't you write a book?" asked he earnestly. "My friend Leopold
+says you ought to; he further said that you were a genius, and if I
+remember him correctly, compared you to a diamond--"
+
+"In the rough," added Alice quickly.
+
+"That's it," said Quincy; "but Leopold added that rough diamonds should
+be dug up, cut, and set in a manner worthy of their value."
+
+"I am afraid Mr. Ernst greatly overrates my abilities and my worth,"
+said she, a little constrainedly. "But how unkind and ungrateful I am to
+you and Mr. Ernst, who have been so kind and have done so much for me. I
+will promise this much," she continued graciously. "I will think it
+over, and if my heart does not fail me, I will try."
+
+"I hope your conclusion will be favorable," remarked Quincy. "In a short
+time you will be financially independent and freed from any necessity of
+returning to your former vocation. I never knew of an author so
+completely successful at the start, and I think you have every
+encouragement to make literature your 'love of a lifetime.'"
+
+"I will try to think so too," replied Alice softly.
+
+Then he took up the book and finished reading it. When he had closed,
+neither he nor she were thinking of that future world in which Herbert
+and Clarice had sealed those vows which they had kept so steadfastly and
+truly during life, but of the present world, bright with promise for
+each of them, in which there was but one shade of sorrow--that filmy web
+that shut out the beauties of nature from the sight of that most
+beautiful of God's creations, a lovely woman.
+
+Monday morning Quincy made another trip to Boston. He had obtained the
+measurements for a large sign, upon which, on a blue ground, the words
+"Strout & Maxwell" were to appear in large gold letters. He paid another
+visit to the carriage factory, and ordered two leather covered wagon
+tops, to be used in stormy weather, and picked out two sets of harness
+resplendent with brass buckles and bosses and having "S. & M." in brass
+letters on the blinders.
+
+He reached Aunt Ella's in time for lunch. He told her of the approaching
+wedding of Ezekiel and Huldy; then, leaning over, he whispered something
+in her ear, which made her face beam with delight.
+
+"What a joke it will be," cried she, "and how the country folks will
+enjoy it. Can't I come down to the wedding, Quincy, and bring my landau,
+my double span of cream-colored horses, and my driver and footman in the
+Chessman livery? I'll take you and your lady love to the church."
+
+"Why, certainly," said Quincy. "I'll ask Miss Mason to send you an
+invitation."
+
+"Let me do something to help," begged the impetuous but good-hearted
+Aunt Ella. "Bring the girls up some morning early. We will go shopping,
+then we'll lunch here. We will have to go without our wine and cigars
+that day, you know, and then we'll go to the modiste's and the
+milliner's in the afternoon. We'll make a day of it, young man."
+
+Quincy leaned back in his easy-chair and blew a ring of blue smoke from
+one of Uncle Robert's cigars.
+
+"Excuse me, Aunt Ella," said he, "but do you ever intend to get married
+again?"
+
+"Quincy Adams Sawyer!" cried Aunt Ella, with an astonished look on her
+face, "are you joking?"
+
+"Certainly not," replied Quincy. "My question was intended to be a
+serious and respectful inquiry. You are only forty, fine looking, well
+educated, well connected and wealthy. Why should you not?"
+
+"I will answer you seriously then, Quincy. I could not marry again. Ten
+years' life with Robert Chessman was a greater pleasure than a lifetime
+with an ordinary man. I was twenty-five when I married him; we lived
+together ten years; he has been dead for five. How often I have wished
+that Robert had lived to enjoy his fortune with me.
+
+"But he was satisfied," she continued. "'Better be a success at the
+end,' he used to say, 'than be a success in middle life and fall from
+your greatness. Look at Wolsey, look at Richelieu, look at Napoleon
+Bonaparte.' He would often remark: 'Earth has no sadder picture than a
+broken idol.' He used to consider Abraham Lincoln the most successful
+man that ever lived, for he died before making a mistake, and when he
+was strongest in the hearts of the people.
+
+"Your question reminds me," continued Aunt Ella, "of something I had in
+mind to say to you at some future day, but I may as well say it now. How
+much money have you, Quincy, and what is your income?"
+
+"Father gave me fifty thousand dollars outright when I was twenty-one;
+it pays on an average six per cent. Besides this he allows me two
+thousand a year for supposed professional services rendered in his law
+office."
+
+"That makes five thousand a year," said Aunt Ella quickly. "Well, I'll
+allow you five thousand more a year, and the day you are married I'll
+give you as much outright as your father did. That's unconditional. Now,
+conditionally, if you bring your wife here and live with me you shall
+have rooms and board free, and I'll leave you every dollar I possess
+when I'm through with it. Don't argue with me now," she continued, as
+Quincy essayed to speak. "Think it over, tell her about it. You will do
+as you please, of course, but I shall not change my mind on this point."
+
+"Didn't your husband leave any relatives that might turn up and prevent
+any such disposition of your property?"
+
+"When we married, Robert said he was alone in the world," replied Aunt
+Ella; "he had no sisters, and only one brother, named Charles. Charles
+was an artist; he went to Paris to study about thirty-five years ago.
+From there he went to London. Some thirty years ago Robert got a letter
+from him in which he said he was going to return to America. Robert
+waited, but he did not come; then he wrote again to his English address,
+but the letter was returned with the words 'Gone to America' endorsed
+thereon."
+
+"Was he married?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"Robert never knew," said Aunt Ella, "but he imagined not, as Charlie,
+as he called him, never spoke in his letters of being in love, much less
+of being married."
+
+Quincy caught the three o'clock train to Eastborough Centre, and Ellis
+Smith, another son of 'Bias Smith, who had taken the hotel carriage in
+place of his brother Abbott, drove him home.
+
+A few days thereafter invitations to the wedding of Ezekiel Pettengill
+and Hulda Ann Mason were sent broadcast through Eastborough Centre, West
+Eastborough, Mason's Corner, and Montrose. Then it was decided by the
+gossips that Ezekiel was going to have Mr. Sawyer and Hiram Maxwell and
+Sam Hill to stand up with him, while Huldy Ann was going to have Alice
+Pettengill, Mandy Skinner, and Tilly James as bridesmaids.
+
+The whole town turned out when the two gaudy wagons, with their handsome
+horses and fine harness reached Eastborough Centre, and a number of
+Centre folks followed the unique procession over to Mason's Corner. One
+of the wagons contained the new sign, which was soon put in place, and
+was a source of undisguised admiration for a long time.
+
+On the tenth of April, Strout & Maxwell's two heavy teams went over to
+Eastborough Centre and returned about noon heavily loaded, followed by
+three other teams from the Centre equally well filled. Then Mr. Obadiah
+Strout could contain himself no longer. He let the cat out of the bag,
+and the news spread like wildfire over the village, and was soon carried
+to Eastborough Centre and to Montrose. The Mason's Corner church was to
+have a new organ, a present from Mr. Sawyer, and Professor Obadiah
+Strout had been engaged to officiate for one year.
+
+The nineteenth of April was fixed for Huldy's wedding day. The hour was
+ten in the morning. As early as eight o'clock teams began to arrive from
+north, east, south, and west. Enough invitations had been issued to fill
+the church, and by half-past nine every seat was taken.
+
+The little church was profusely decorated with vines, ferns and potted
+plants, while a wealth of cut flowers adorned the altar, the front of
+the new organ, which rose towering to the very top of the church, and
+the pews reserved for the bridal party.
+
+Outside the edifice hundreds of sightseers, not honored with
+invitations, lined both sides of the spacious Square in front of the
+church, and occupied positions of vantage on the steps.
+
+It lacked but ten minutes of ten. The sexton rung a merry peal from the
+sweet-toned bell, which was the pride of the inhabitants of Mason's
+Corner. Within the church the ushers, having attended to the seating of
+the audience, stood just within the door awaiting the arrival of the
+bride and groom. They were in dress suits, with white gloves, and each
+had a white rose in his butonhole. Robert Wood and Cobb's twins had been
+assigned to the right of the centre aisle, while Abbott Smith, Benjamin
+Bates, and Emmanuel Howe had charge of the left side of the edifice. If
+any noticed the absence of Samuel Hill and Hiram Maxwell, it did not
+provoke general remark, although Mrs. Hawkins asked Jonas if he'd seen
+Mandy anywhere, and Tilly James's school chum, Eliza Allen, managed to
+occupy two seats, so as to have one for Tilly when she came.
+
+At exactly five minutes of ten, Professor Strout emerged from the rear
+of the platform and proceeded towards the new organ. He, like the
+ushers, was in a dress suit, with a white rose in the lapel of his coat.
+He was greeted with applause and bowed his acknowledgements. He took his
+seat at the organ and played a soft prelude, during which the Rev. Caleb
+Howe entered and advanced to the altar.
+
+Then loud cheers were heard from the assembled crowd outside. The organ
+stopped and the sexton again filled the air with merry peals. The sight
+outside was one which those inside could not see, and therefore could
+not appreciate. What was that coming up the road? Mason's Corner had
+never seen an equipage like that before. An open carriage, drawn by four
+cream-colored horses, with white manes and tails and silver-tipped
+harness. A coachman in livery sat upon the box, while a footman, in
+similar livery, rode behind. Following behind this were other carriages,
+containing the other members of the bridal party.
+
+Within the church every eye was turned upon the door through which the
+party was to come. Professor Strout's sharp eye saw the first couple as
+they reached the entrance, and the strains of Mendelssohn's Wedding
+March, that have preceded so many happy bridals, sounded through the
+church. The party included Ezekiel and Huldy, Deacon Mason and wife, Mr.
+Sawyer and Miss Alice Pettengill, and a handsome, richly dressed lady
+unknown to any of the villagers, who was escorted by Mr. Isaac
+Pettengill.
+
+Ezekiel and Huldy advanced and took their positions before the minister,
+while the remainder of the party took seats in one of the bridal pews.
+
+When the ceremony was over the audience naturally expected that the
+wedded couple would leave the church by the right-hand aisle, on both
+sides of which, from end to end, white silk ribbons had been drawn to
+keep the passage clear.
+
+But no! Shouts and cheers were again heard from outside the church,
+again the church bell rang out, and once more the melody of the Wedding
+March fell upon the ears of the Professor's auditors, while to their
+astonishment Ezekiel and his wife seated themselves quietly in the front
+bridal pew. Again every eye was turned, every neck was craned, and
+Samuel Hill and Tilly James walked down the centre aisle and took their
+places before the clergyman. Again the solemn words were spoken, and
+this time the spectators felt sure that the double couple would leave
+the church by the silken pathway.
+
+But no; again were cheers and shouts from the outside borne to the
+excited spectators within. Once more the sexton sent out pleasing tones
+from the church bell; once more the Professor evoked those melodious
+strains from the sweet-toned organ; and as Samuel Hill and his wife took
+their seats in the front pew beside Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Pettengill, the
+excitement of the audience could no longer be controlled. It overcame
+all restraint, and as Hiram Maxwell and Mandy Skinner entered, the
+people arose to their feet and cheered loudly, as they would have done
+at a political meeting or a circus.
+
+Again, and for the last time, the Rev. Mr. Howe went through the
+time-honored ceremony, and at its close Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Pettengill,
+Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Maxwell left the church
+by way of the right-hand aisle, preceded by the ushers, who strewed the
+aisle with white roses as they advanced, and were followed by the
+occupants of the second bridal pew.
+
+As Quincy rode over to Eastborough Centre with his Aunt Ella, after
+partaking of the wedding breakfast, which was served in Deacon Mason's
+dining-room, she remarked to him that the events of the day had been
+most enjoyable, and that she didn't know, after all, but that she should
+change her mind about getting married again.
+
+When asked by Quincy if she had seen any one whom she thought would
+suit her for a second husband, she replied that "Mr. Isaac Pettengill
+was a very well-preserved old gentleman, and the most original man in
+thought and speech that she had met since Robert died."
+
+Quincy did not inform her that Uncle Ike had a wife and two grown-up
+daughters living, thinking it best to reserve that information for a
+future occasion.
+
+That night Strout & Maxwell's grocery store was the centre of
+attraction. Strout was in his glory, and was, of course, in his own
+opinion, the most successful feature of that eventful day. It was a very
+common thing to get married, but it was a most uncommon thing to play on
+a new church organ, and play as well as he had done, "for the first
+time, too," as he remarked a score of times.
+
+Stepping upon a barrel, the Professor called out in a loud voice,
+"Order, please," and in a short time the assembled crowd became quiet.
+
+"Friends and Feller Citizens: I have this day received my commission as
+postmaster at Mason's Corner, Mass. Mail matter will be sorted with
+celerity and delivered only to the proper parties, while the firm of
+Strout & Maxwell will always keep on hand a full assortment of the best
+family groceries at reasonable prices. Soliciting your continued
+patronage, I remain, yours respectively.
+
+OBADIAH STROUT, Postmaster.
+
+As the Professor stepped down from the barrel, Abner Stiles caught him
+by the arm and said in a low voice, "Isn't Deacon Mason one of your
+bondsmen?"
+
+"Yes," said Strout, somewhat pompously, "but what of it?"
+
+"Why, yer see," said Abner, "I'm workin' for the Deacon now, and I'm
+just as devoted to his interests as I used to be to yourn onct, and with
+a much better hope of reward, both on this earth and in Heaven, and if
+he's got money put up on yer, of course yer won't object if I drop in
+onct in a while and kinder keep an eye on yer." And with this parting
+shot he dashed out a side door and was lost to sight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+BLENNERHASSETT.
+
+
+When comparatively great events follow each other in quick succession,
+those of minor importance are liable to escape mention. It was for this
+reason, probably, that the second visit of Dr. Tillotson was not spoken
+of at the time of its occurrence. He examined Alice's eyes and declared
+that progress towards recovery was being made, slowly but surely. He
+left a bottle of new medicine, and advised Alice, as an aid to recovery,
+to take a long walk, or a ride, each pleasant day. This advice he
+repeated to Uncle Ike, who was waiting for him outside the front door,
+and to Quincy, who brought him from the station and took him back.
+
+On the day fixed upon, Quincy drove over to Montrose, and accompanied by
+Squire Rundlett, went to the county town and presented Mrs. Putnam's
+will for probate. In due time the will was admitted, the executors'
+bonds were filed and approved, and Quincy, at the age of twenty-three,
+found himself one of the financial guardians of the young heiress, Mary
+Alice Pettengill, she being his junior by less than two years.
+
+About ten days after Quincy's interview with his Aunt Ella, in which she
+had signified her intention of making him an allowance, he received a
+letter from a Boston banking firm, informing him that by direction of
+Mrs. Ella Chessman, the sum of five thousand dollars had been placed to
+his credit, and that a similar sum would be so placed on the first
+business day of January in each succeeding year. A blank card was
+enclosed for a copy of his signature, and the statement made that his
+drafts would be duly honored.
+
+When Quincy and his aunt reached Eastborough Centre, after the trio of
+weddings, they found that they had a full hour to wait before the
+arrival of the next ingoing train.
+
+This gave plenty of time for the reloading of the horses and carriage on
+the special car in which they had been brought from Boston and which had
+been side-tracked.
+
+Quincy wished to accompany his aunt to Boston and escort her to her
+home, but she demurred. He insisted, but his aunt replied, "Don't go,
+please don't, Quincy; they will take me for your mother, and I really am
+not quite old enough for that."
+
+This argument was unanswerable, and Quincy bade her a laughing good-by
+as the train sped on towards Boston, the special car in charge of the
+coachman and footman bringing up the rear.
+
+Thus Aunt Ella's visit to Mason's Corner became an event of the past,
+but the memory of it remained green for a long time in the minds of
+those who had witnessed her arrival and departure.
+
+Ellis Smith drove Quincy home to the Pettengill house. It was to be home
+no longer, for Hiram and Mandy were to have the room that Quincy had
+occupied so long. His trunk and other belongings he had packed up the
+night before, and at Quincy's request, Cobb's twins had taken them out
+to Jacob's Parlor, where he found them. He knew that Mr. and Mrs.
+Hawkins were to spend the afternoon with their daughter and son-in-law.
+
+Quincy also knew that Uncle Ike and Alice were at Deacon Mason's, where
+Ezekiel and Huldy were to remain for the coming week.
+
+For the first time since he had been at Mason's Corner, Quincy felt
+lonesome and deserted. He reflected on his way to Mrs. Hawkins's
+boarding house that these weddings were all very nice, to be sure, but
+they had deprived him of the society of many good friends, who were now
+united by stronger ties than those of simple, everyday friendship.
+
+He did not care to go to the grocery store, for he felt that the
+Professor was entitled to all the credit that he was likely to get for
+his day's performance, and he did not wish to detract from it. So he
+went directly to his room, and for the first time felt out of sorts with
+Eastborough and its people.
+
+He was not hungry for food, so he did not answer the call to supper, but
+sat in the dark and thought. He realized that he was hungry, yes,
+desperately hungry, for love--the love of one woman, Alice Pettengill.
+Why should he wait longer? Even if his father and mother objected his
+Aunt Ella was on his side, and her action had made him independent. He
+had felt himself so before, but now there was no doubt of it.
+
+This determined young man then made up his mind he would declare his
+love at the first auspicious moment. Then he would go to his parents and
+learn their verdict on his proposed action. Thinking thus he went to
+bed, and in his dreams, ushers, and bridesmaids, and cut flowers, and
+potted plants, and miles of silken ribbon, and cream-colored horses, and
+carriages, and clergymen, and organists, and big pipe organs were
+revolving about him and Alice, as the planets revolve about the sun.
+
+Once more Quincy's breakfast was on the stove being kept warm, and once
+more Mrs. Hawkins was waiting impatiently for him to come down.
+
+Betsy Green and she were washing the breakfast dishes. How happy Eve
+must have been in Eden, where there was no china, no knives and forks,
+and no pots and kettles, and what an endless burden of commonplace
+drudgery she entailed upon her fair sisters when she fell from her high
+estate. Man's labor is uniformly productive, but woman's, alas! is still
+almost as uniformly simply preservative.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer," said Mrs. Hawkins to Betsy Green, "is no doubt a very nice
+young man, but I shouldn't want him for a steady boarder, 'less he got
+up on time and eat his meals reg'lar."
+
+"I s'pose he's all tired out," remarked Betsy. "He had a pretty hard day
+of it yesterday, you know, Mis' Hawkins."
+
+"Wall, I s'pose I ought to be kinder easy on him on that account. I must
+say he managed things fust rate."
+
+"How did the brides look?" asked Betsy.
+
+Poor girl, she was one of the few who were not able to view the grand
+sight.
+
+"I can think of no word to express my feelin's," replied Mrs. Hawkins
+after a pause, "but splendiferous! Huldy's dress was a white satin that
+would a stood alone. She had a overskirt of netted white silk cord,
+heavy enough to use for a hammock. You know she's neither light nor
+dark, kind of a between, but she looked mighty poorty all the same."
+
+"Was Tilly James dressed in white, too?" inquired Betsy.
+
+"No," answered Mrs. Hawkins. "She wore a very light pink silk, with a
+lace overskirt, and it just matched her black eyes and black hair fine,
+I can tell yer."
+
+"Mandy must have looked pretty, with her light curly hair and blue eyes,
+and those rosy cheeks."
+
+"Well," said Mrs. Hawkins reflectively, "I'm her mother, and a course
+I'm prejoodished, but I honestly think she was the best lookin' one of
+the three. Of course Hiram is no beauty, and I'm all out of patience
+when he tries to talk to me. But I know he'll make Mandy a good husband,
+and that's a tarnal sight better'n good looks."
+
+"What color was Mandy's dress?" persisted Betsy.
+
+"Lord a massy," cried Mrs. Hawkins, "I e'en a'most forgot to tell yer.
+Her dress was a very light blue silk, with a lace overskirt, 'bout the
+same as Tilly's. Mr. Sawyer gave her two hundred dollars to buy her
+things with, 'cause she's been so nice to him since he boarded at
+Pettengill's."
+
+"Who was that stylish lookin' lady that came in a carriage with the four
+beautiful horses? I saw her outer the attic winder."
+
+"She was a Mrs. Chessman," replied Mrs. Hawkins. I heern tell she's a
+widder'd aunt of Mr. Sawyer's, and she's as rich as Creazers."
+
+"How rich is that?" inquired Betsey, with an astonished look.
+
+"Creazers," replied Mrs. Hawkins, with an expression that savored of
+erudition, "was a man who was so all fired rich that he had to hire
+folks to spend his money for him."
+
+At that moment a step was heard in the dining-room, and both Mrs.
+Hawkins and Betsy flew to wait upon the new-comer who proved to be Mr.
+Quincy Adams Sawyer. As he took his seat at the table the Connecticut
+clock on the mantelpiece struck ten.
+
+At eleven o'clock that same morning Mr. Sawyer knocked at the front door
+of Mr. Ezekiel Pettengill's residence. How strange it seemed, how much
+more homelike it would have been to have entered by the back door and to
+have come through the kitchen and dining-room, as of old. But no! He was
+not a regular boarder now, only an occasional visitor.
+
+The door was opened by young Mrs. Maxwell, and her usually rosy cheeks
+were ruddier than ever when she saw who the caller was.
+
+"Is Miss Pettengill in?" Quincy politely inquired.
+
+"She's in the parlor, sir; won't you walk in?" And she threw open the
+door of the room in which Alice sat by the fire.
+
+"Do I disturb your dreams, Miss Pettengill?" asked Quincy, as he reached
+her side.
+
+"I'm so glad you have come, Mr. Sawyer," said Alice, extending her hand.
+"I never was so lonesome in my life as I have been this morning. The
+house seems deserted. Uncle Ike ate too many good things yesterday, and
+says he is enjoying an attack of indigestion to-day. I had Swiss in here
+to keep me company, but he wouldn't stay and Mandy had to let him out."
+
+"He came up to Mrs. Hawkins's," said Quincy, as he took his accustomed
+seat opposite Alice. "He walked down with me, but when he saw me safe on
+the front doorstep he disappeared around the corner."
+
+"I didn't tell him to go after you," said Alice, laughing; "but I am
+very glad that you have come. I have a very important matter to consult
+you about. You know you are my business man now."
+
+"I'm always at your service," replied Quincy. "I think I know what you
+wish to see me about."
+
+"And what do you think it is?" asked Alice, shaking her head negatively.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I saw Squire Rundlett the day before the weddings
+and he thought that you might possibly want some money. He had a
+thousand dollars in cash belonging to you, and I brought you half of it.
+If you will kindly sign this receipt," he continued, as he took a small
+parcel from his pocket, "you will relieve me of further responsibility
+for its safe keeping."
+
+He moved the little writing table close to her chair, and dipping the
+pen in the ink he handed it to her, and indicated with his finger the
+place where she should sign. She wrote as well as ever, though she could
+see nothing that she penned.
+
+"There are eight fifty-dollar bills, eight tens and four fives," he
+said, as he passed her the money.
+
+"Which are the fifties?" she asked, as she handled the money nervously
+with her fingers.
+
+"Here they are," said Quincy, and he separated them from the rest of the
+bills and placed them in her hands.
+
+"Oh! thank you," said she. She counted out four of the bills and passed
+them to Quincy. "That settles my money debt to you, does it not?" she
+inquired; "but nothing can pay the debt of gratitude that I owe you for
+your many acts of kindness to me, Mr. Sawyer."
+
+"I am fully repaid by that very kind speech of yours," replied Quincy.
+"But what was the important matter you wished to see me about? I don't
+think it was the money."
+
+"It was not," said Alice. "I have little use for money just at present.
+I never had so much before at once in all my life. I shall have to learn
+to be an heiress."
+
+"It's a lesson that is very easily learned," replied Quincy.
+
+"What I wish to speak about," continued Alice, musingly, "is Mrs.
+Putnam's house. I could never live in it. I could never go into that
+room again;" and she shuddered.
+
+"You can sell it," interposed Quincy.
+
+"No," said Alice earnestly, "I am going to give it away. Father just
+made a living here, and Ezekiel can do no better, but with the Putnam
+farm, properly stocked, he can in time become a rich man, for he is a
+good farmer, and he loves his work. I wish," continued Alice, "to give
+'Zekiel and Huldy the farm outright, then I would like to loan him
+enough money to buy live stock and machinery and whatever else he may
+need, so that he may begin his new life under the most favorable
+auspices."
+
+"I think your proposed action a most commendable one," remarked Quincy.
+"I am sure you need anticipate no objections on the part of Squire
+Rundlett or myself. Our duties are limited to seeing that all the
+property that was willed to you is properly delivered. It gives us no
+right to interfere with your wishes or to question your motives. I will
+see Squire Rundlett at an early day and have the matter put into shape.
+Does Ezekiel know of this?"
+
+"Not a word," said Alice; "I do not wish to speak to him about it until
+the matter is all settled and the papers are signed. He is high
+spirited, and at the first mention I know he would refuse my offer,
+especially if he thought 'twas only known to us two. But when he learns
+that the deed is done, and that the Squire and yourself are knowing to
+it, he will be more tractable."
+
+"Speaking of the Putnam house, or more properly, I suppose, Pettengill
+house number two--"
+
+"This will always be number one," interposed Alice.
+
+"--reminds me," said Quincy, that my efforts to discover Lindy's
+whereabouts have so far proved unavailing. The advertisement that I put
+in for a month has run out and I have received no word."
+
+"Do you think she went to New York, as she promised?" inquired Alice.
+
+"I do not," replied Quincy. "I think she always had an idea that Mrs.
+Putnam had some letter or document in her possession relating to her
+parents. I think the poor girl lost hope when she learned that it was
+destroyed, and I imagine that she has intentionally hidden herself and
+does not wish to be found. I might, after long search, discover her
+bankers, but she has probably notified them to keep her address a
+secret. I do not like to confess," he continued, "to so abject a
+failure, but I really do not know what to do next."
+
+"We must wait and hope," said Alice. Then looking up at Quincy with an
+arch smile upon her face, she added, "I will extend your time, Sir
+Knight. Your gallant efforts have so far been unsuccessful, but I shall
+pray that you may some day return victorious."
+
+Quincy replied in the same tone of banter: "Knowing that you, fair lady,
+are ever thinking of me, and that my name is ever upon your fair lips in
+prayer, will spur me to renewed effort, for surely no cavalier ever had
+a more lovely mistress or a greater incentive to knightly action."
+
+Although he spoke in a chaffing tone, there was an undercurrent of
+seriousness in his manner and pathos in his voice that made Alice start
+and flush visibly.
+
+Fearing that he had gone too far he quickly changed the subject by
+asking abruptly, "Have you come to any decision about your book?"
+
+"Yes," replied Alice, "and I am ashamed to say that your friend's
+suggestion and your warm endorsement of it have so increased my egotism
+and enlarged my appreciation of my own abilities that I am tempted to
+try it, especially now, as you inform me I am independent and can do as
+I please."
+
+"Have you progressed so far as to fix upon a subject?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"Yes, provisionally," replied Alice. "I have always been a great admirer
+of history, and particularly that of my own country. For the period from
+1776, no, from 1607, to the present time I have become conversant with
+the thoughts and acts of our patriots and public men. One character has
+always been a mystery to me, and I wish to learn all I can about him."
+
+"And he?" questioned Quincy.
+
+"Is Aaron Burr," said Alice. "How I wish I could learn the truth about
+the loss of his daughter Theodosia; then the real reasons for his duel
+with Alexander Hamilton are not fully understood at the present day.
+Then again, I should enjoy writing about that fine old Irish gentleman
+and lover of science, Harman Blennerhassett, and his lovely wife,
+Margaret."
+
+"Have you decided upon the title?" still further questioned Quincy.
+
+"I have thought of two," she replied, "'Theodosia,' and
+'Blennerhassett,' but I strongly incline to the latter."
+
+"So do I," said Quincy, "but you will have to do much more reading, no
+doubt, before you commence writing. Historical novels are usually
+savagely attacked by the critics, presumably very often from political
+motives, and you would have to be very strong in your authorities."
+
+"That is what troubles me," said Alice; "if I only could read--"
+
+"But others can read to you and make such notes as you desire," remarked
+Quincy. "I should like nothing better than to help you in such a work,
+but I have been away from home so long that I feel it imperative to
+resume my business duties at an early day."
+
+"I think you ought," said Alice. "I could not presume to trespass upon
+your kindness and good nature to such an extent. The idea of writing
+this book has grown very pleasing to me, but I can wait until--" She
+stopped speaking and placed both of her hands over her eyes. "I can
+wait," she repeated, "until my eyes are better."
+
+"Will you allow me to make a suggestion, Miss Pettengill?"
+
+Alice smiled and nodded. "You are my literary as well as my financial
+adviser," said she.
+
+"It will no doubt appear quite an undertaking to you," continued Quincy,
+"but I shall be very glad to help you. My plan is to secure a lady who
+reads well and can write a good hand to assist you. Besides this, she
+must understand correcting proof sheets. I think Leopold could easily
+find such a person for you. Then, again, you know what Dr. Tillotson
+said about your taking exercise and fresh air. The second feature of my
+plan, and the most important in my mind, is to find some quiet place in
+the country, or at the beach, where you and your amanuensis can both
+work and play. I can buy for you such books as you need, and you can
+finish the work this summer."
+
+Alice reflected. After a few moments' pause she said, "I like the plan
+and I thank you very much for speaking of it; but I prefer the beach. I
+love the plash and roar and boom of the water, and it will be a constant
+inspiration to me. How soon can I go?" she asked, with a look upon her
+face that a young child might have had in speaking to its father.
+
+This was Alice Pettengill's great charm. She was honest and
+disingenuous, and was always ready to think that what others deemed it
+best for her to do was really so. Imitation may be the sincerest
+flattery, but appreciation of the advice and counsel of others, combined
+with gratitude for the friendly spirit that prompts it, makes and holds
+more friends.
+
+Quincy looked at his watch.
+
+"I can get the afternoon train, I think," said he. "I will see Leopold,
+and then run up and make Aunt Ella a call. She knows the New England
+coast from Eastport to Newport. Did she speak to you at the wedding?"
+
+"Some lady with a very pleasant voice asked me if I were Miss
+Pettengill, while we were in the church," replied Alice. "I said yes,
+and then she told me that her name was Chessman, adding the information
+that she was your aunt, and that you could tell me all about her."
+
+"I shall be happy to," said Quincy; "but I can assure you it would be
+much more enjoyable for you to hear it from herself. I hope you will
+have that pleasure some day." And again adopting a bantering tone, "I
+trust, fair lady, I shall not return this time from a bootless errand."
+
+Alice listened again, as she had often done, until she heard the sound
+of departing wheels, and then she fell to wondering whether her future
+paths in life would continue to be marked out by this Sir Knight, who
+was ever at her beck and call, and whether it was her destiny to always
+tread the paths that he laid out for her.
+
+Quincy was fortunate in finding Leopold at home.
+
+"I'm glad you've come, Quincy," said he; "I was going to write you
+to-night."
+
+"What's up?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"Please pass me that package of papers on the corner of the table,"
+answered Leopold, being loath to rise from his recumbent position on the
+lounge.
+
+Quincy did as requested and took a seat beside Leopold.
+
+"These," said Leopold, "are the proofs of the first writings of a
+to-be-famous American author. Glad she took a man's name, so I don't
+have to say authoress. Here," he continued, "are the proofs of the
+story, Was it Signed? Cooper wishes it read and returned immediately.
+Editors wish everything done immediately. They loaf on their end and
+expect the poor author to sit up all night and make up for their
+shortcomings. I'm a sort of editor myself, and I know what I'm talking
+about. This lot," he continued, "will appear in 'The Sunday Universe' a
+week from next Sunday. I had a copy made for Jameson to work from. Bruce
+Douglas owes me four-fifty for expenses, necessary but not authorized."
+
+"I will see that you are reimbursed," said Quincy; "want it now?" and he
+made a motion to take out his pocketbook.
+
+"No," replied Leopold, "I'm flush to-day; keep it till some time when
+I'm strapped. Last, and most important of all, here are the proofs of
+the story that is to appear in our monthly. Now, my advice to you is,
+Quincy, seek the fair author at once, correct these proofs and have them
+back to me within three days, or they'll go over and she'll be charged
+for keeping the type standing, besides having her pay hung up for
+another week."
+
+"She won't mind that," said Quincy, with a laugh. "She's an heiress now,
+with real and personal property valued at fifty thousand dollars. But
+what am I to do?" asked he seriously. "I could read the manuscript, but
+we have no one at Eastborough who knows how to make those pothooks and
+scratches that you call 'corrections.'"
+
+"Well, you two young aspirants for literary fame are in a box, are'nt
+you? I was thinking about that fifty thousand. Perhaps I'd better go
+home with you and get acquainted with the author," said Leopold with a
+laugh.
+
+"Well," returned Quincy, "it would be very kind of you in our present
+emergency, but, strange as it may seem, I came to see you this afternoon
+about securing a literary assistant for Miss Pettengill. She has decided
+to write that book."
+
+"Good girl!" cried Leopold, sitting bolt upright upon the lounge. "I
+mean, good boy, for it was, no doubt, your acknowledged powers of
+argument and gently persuasive ways that have secured this consummation
+of my desire. Let me think;" and he scratched his head vigorously. "I
+think I have it," said he, finally. "One of our girls down to the office
+worked so hard during our late splurge that the doctor told her she must
+rest this week. She rooms over on Myrtle Street. I happened to be late
+in getting out one day last week, and we walked together up as far as
+Chestnut Street. She lives nearly down to the end of Myrtle Street."
+
+"No further explanation or extenuation is necessary," said Quincy. "Is
+she pretty?"
+
+"You're right, she is," replied Leopold, "She's both pretty and smart.
+She has a beautiful voice and writes a hand that looks like copperplate.
+She's a first-class proof reader and a perfect walking dictionary on
+spelling, definitions, and dates. They treat her mighty shabby on pay,
+though. She's a woman, so they gave her six dollars a week. If she were
+a man they'd give her twenty, and think themselves lucky. I'll run over
+and see if she is at home. At what time could she go down with you
+to-morrow?" he asked.
+
+"I'll come after her at nine o'clock. Tell her Miss Pettengill will give
+her eight dollars a week, with board and lodging free."
+
+"All right," cried Leopold, "that's business. While I'm gone just see
+how pretty those stories look in cold type. I've been all through them
+myself just for practice."
+
+Leopold dashed out of the room and Quincy took up the proofs of the
+story, Was It Signed? He became so absorbed in its perusal that Leopold
+pulled it out of his hand in order to attract his attention.
+
+"It's all right," he said. "She's delighted at the idea of going. She
+thinks the change will do her good. She can't build up very fast in a
+little back room, up three flights."
+
+"What's her name?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Oh! I forgot," replied Leopold. "I'll write her name and address down
+for you. There it is," said he, as he passed it to Quincy. "Her first
+name is Rosa, and that's all right. She's of French-Canadian descent,
+and her last name is one of those jawbreakers that no American can
+pronounce. It sounded something like Avery, so she called herself at
+first Rosa Avery; then the two A's caused trouble, for everybody thought
+she said Rose Avery. Being a proof reader," continued Leopold, "she is
+very sensitive, so while the name Rosa satisfied her inmost soul, the
+name Rose jarred upon her sensibilities. Thus another change became
+necessary, and she is now known, and probably will continue to be known,
+as Miss Rosa Very, until she makes up her mind to change it again."
+
+"I'm greatly obliged, Leopold," said Quincy, making the proofs into a
+flat parcel and putting them into his inside overcoat pocket.
+
+"Don't mention it, old fellow," remarked Leopold. "You may be the means
+of supplying me with an assistant some day. If you should, don't fail to
+call my attention to it."
+
+Aunt Ella was at dinner when Quincy arrived. She sent word up by Buttons
+for Quincy to come down to the dining-room at once. She was alone in the
+room when he entered.
+
+"Just in time," said he, "and I'm hungry as a bear."
+
+"That's a good boy; sit down and help me out," said his aunt. "These
+extravagant servants of mine cook ten times as much as I can possibly
+eat."
+
+"I don't imagine it is wasted," replied Quincy.
+
+"I think not," said Aunt Ella, with a laugh; "for, judging from the
+extra plentiful supply, they probably have a kitchen party in view for
+this evening. But what keeps you away from Eastborough over night?"
+
+"I thought you couldn't eat and talk at the same time," remarked Quincy.
+
+"I can't," she replied. "I'm through eating and I'm going to sit and
+listen to you. Go right ahead, the servants won't come in. I won't let
+them stand and look at me when I'm eating. If I want them I ring for
+them."
+
+Quincy then briefly related the principal events that had taken place at
+Mason's Corner since the nineteenth, remarking, incidentally, that he
+had received no word from Lindy.
+
+"Let her alone, and she'll come home when she gets ready," said Aunt
+Ella. "As to the best place for your young lady to go, I shall have to
+think a minute. Old Orchard is my favorite, but I'm afraid it would be
+too noisy for her there, the hotels are so close to the railroad track.
+I suppose your family, meaning your mother's, of course, will go to
+Nahant, as usual. Sarah would have society convulsions at Old Orchard. I
+should like to see her promenading down in front of the candy stores,
+shooting for cigars in the shooting gallery, or taking a ride down to
+Saco Pool on the narrow-gauge; excuse me for speaking so of your mother,
+Quincy, but I have been acquainted with her much longer than you have."
+She went on, "Newport is too stylish for comfort. Ah! I have it, Quincy.
+I was there three years ago, and I know what I'm talking about. Quaint
+place,--funny looking houses, with little promenades on top,--crooked
+streets that lead everywhere and nowhere,--very much like Boston,--full
+of curiosities,--hardy old mariners and peaceable old Quakers,--plenty
+of nice milk and eggs and fresh fish,--more fish than anything
+else,--every breeze is a sea breeze, and it is so delightfully quiet
+that the flies and mosquitoes imitate the inhabitants, and sleep all day
+and all night."
+
+"Where is this modern Eden, this corner lot in Paradise?" asked Quincy;
+"it can't be part of the United States."
+
+"Not exactly," replied Aunt Ella; it's off shore, I forget how many
+miles, but you can find it swimming around in the water just south of
+Cape Cod."
+
+"Oh! you mean Nantucket," cried Quincy.
+
+"That's the place," assented his aunt. "Now, Quincy, I'll tell you just
+what I want you to do, and I want you to promise to do it before I say
+another word."
+
+"That's a woman's way," remarked Quincy, "of avoiding argument and
+preventing a free expression of opinion by interested parties; but I'll
+consent, only be merciful."
+
+"What I'm going to ask you to do, Quincy Sawyer, is for your good, and
+you'll own up that I've been more than a mother to you before I get
+through."
+
+"You always have been," said Quincy, seriously. "Of course, I love my
+mother in a way, but I'm never exactly comfortable when I'm with her.
+But when I'm with you, Aunt Ella, I'm always contented and feel
+perfectly at home."
+
+"Bless you, my dear boy," she said. Then, rising, she went behind his
+chair, leaned over and kissed him on the forehead; then, pulling a chair
+close to him, she went on: "I haven't spoken to you of her, Quincy,
+because I have had no opportunity until now. I've fallen in love with
+her myself. I am a physiognomist as well as a phrenologist. Robert
+taught me the principles. She's almost divinely lovely. I say almost,
+for, of course, she'll be still lovelier when she goes to Heaven. Her
+well-shaped head indicates a strong, active, inventive mind, while her
+pure heart and clean soul are mirrored in her sweet face. She is a good
+foil for you, Quincy. You are almost dark enough for a Spaniard or an
+Italian, while she is Goethe's ideal Marguerite."
+
+It was not necessary for Quincy to ask to whom she referred, nor to
+praise her powers of discernment. It was Aunt Ella's time for talking,
+and she was not inclined to brook any interference. So she went on.
+
+"I want you to bring her here to me and have Rosa What-d'yer-call-her
+come with her. Here they can work and play until you get the nest ready
+for her down to Nantucket. You say she plays and sings. I love music
+passionately, but I can't play a note, even on a jew's-harp; but if she
+plays a wrong note I shall feel inclined to call her attention to it.
+When I used to go to the theatre with Robert, I delighted in telling him
+how badly some of the members of the orchestra were playing, but I
+repented of it. He got in the habit of going out between the acts to
+escape the music, he said, and I never could keep him in his seat after
+that."
+
+Quincy laughed heartily at this. "I see no way of stopping this bad
+habit that gentlemen have of going out between the acts," said he,
+"unless you ladies combine, and insist on a higher grade of orchestral
+excellence."
+
+"I have a large library," continued Aunt Ella, "and she may find many
+books in it that will be of use to her. Robert spent eighteen thousand
+dollars on it, and I've bought a couple of thousand dollars' worth more
+since his death. Now, what do you say, Quincy? You know I will do all in
+my power to make her comfortable and happy while she is here. If Maude
+runs up, and she's the only one that is likely to, I will tell her that
+I have friends here from England. I will keep her out of the way. Will
+you bring her?"
+
+"If she will come, I will," Quincy replied.
+
+"You will never repent it," said Aunt Ella. "Now let us go upstairs."
+
+When they reached her room the cigars and cigarettes were again in
+requisition.
+
+"I kept my promise the other day, Quincy," said she, "when the three
+girls were here. What a sweet, rosy-cheeked, healthy, happy trio they
+were! I wasn't more than twenty myself that day. I give you my solemn
+promise, Quincy, that I won't smoke a cigarette nor drink a glass of
+wine while Alice is here,--until after she goes to bed; and then I'll
+eat a clove and air the room out thoroughly before I let her in in the
+morning."
+
+Quincy was up early next morning, and at ten minutes of nine reached the
+lodging house in Myrtle Street. He had taken a carriage, for he knew
+Miss Very would have her luggage, probably a trunk. His call at the door
+was answered by a sharp-eyed, hatchet-faced woman, whose face was red
+with excitement. To Quincy's inquiry if Miss Very was in, the woman
+replied, "that she was in and was likely to stay in."
+
+"I trust she is not sick," said Quincy.
+
+"No! she ain't sick," the woman replied, "what you mean by sick; but
+there's worse things than bein' sick, especially when a poor widder has
+a big house rent to pay and coal seven dollars and a half a ton."
+
+A small trunk, neatly strapped, stood in the hallway. Glancing into the
+stuffy little parlor, he saw a woman, apparently young, with her veil
+down, seated on a sofa, with a large valise on the floor and a hand bag
+at her side.
+
+Quincy divined the situation at once. Stepping into the hallway, he
+closed the parlor door, and, turning to the woman, said, "How much?"
+
+"Three dollars," replied the woman, "and it's cheap enough for--"
+
+"A miserable little dark stuffy side room, without any heat, up three
+flights, back," broke in Quincy, as he passed her the money.
+
+The woman was breathless with astonishment and anger. Taking advantage
+of this, Quincy opened the parlor door, first beckoning to the coachman
+to come in and get the trunk.
+
+"Miss Very, I presume?" said Quincy, as he advanced towards the young
+lady on the sofa.
+
+She arose as he approached, and answered, "Yes, sir."
+
+"Come with me, please," said he, grasping the valise. She hesitated; he
+understood why. "It's all right," he said, in a low tone. "I've settled
+with the landlady, and you can settle with me any time."
+
+"Thank you, so much," spoke a sweet voice from underneath the veil, and
+the owner of it followed close behind him, and he handed her into the
+carriage. As Quincy pulled the carriage door to, that of the lodging
+house closed with a report like that of a pistol, and Mrs. Colby went
+down stairs and told the servant, who was scrubbing the kitchen floor,
+what had occurred, and added that she "had always had her suspicions of
+that Miss Very."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+While Quincy was talking with Alice the day before, his dinner that Mrs.
+Hawkins had saved for him was being burned to a crisp in and on the
+stove. Mrs. Hawkins's attention was finally attracted to it, and,
+turning to Betsy, she said, "Law sakes, somethin' must be burnin'."
+Running to the stove, she soon discovered the cause. "Mercy on me!" she
+ejaculated. "I left that damper open, and his dinner's burnt to a
+cinder. Wall, I don't care; he may be a good lodger, an' all that, but
+he's a mighty poor boarder; and it's no satisfaction gittin' up things
+for him to eat, and then lettin' them go to waste, even if he does pay
+for it. Them's my sentiments, and I'll feel better now I've spit it
+out."
+
+The good woman went to work to clean up her stove, while Betsy kept on
+with the seemingly endless dish washing. Mrs. Hawkins finished her work,
+and, going to the sink, began to wipe the accumulated pile of dishes.
+
+"I s'pose everybody in town will go to church next Sunday," said Mrs.
+Hawkins, "to see them brides."
+
+"Will they look any different than they did the other day?" Betsy
+innocently inquired.
+
+"Well, I guess," remarked Mrs. Hawkins. "I saw Mandy yesterday and she
+told me all about her trip to the city. Mrs. Chessman went shoppin' with
+them, and the way she beat them shopkeepers down was a sight, Mandy
+says. It beats all how them rich folks can buy things so much cheaper
+than us poor people can. She took them all home to dinner, and Mandy
+says she lives in the most beautifulest house she ever saw. Then she
+went to the dressmakers with them, and she beat them down more'n five
+dollars on each gown. Then she took 'em to the millinery store, and she
+bought each one of them a great big handsome hat, with feathers and
+ribbons and flowers all over 'em. Nobody has seen 'em yet, but all three
+on 'em are going to wear 'em to church next Sunday, and won't there be a
+stir? Nobody'll look at the new orgin."
+
+"I wish I could go," said Betsy.
+
+Mrs. Hawkins rattled on: "Mandy says she took 'em all into a jewelry
+store, and bought each one on 'em a breast-pin, a pair of earrings, and
+a putty ring, to remember her by. Then she druv 'em down to the deepo in
+her carriage."
+
+"I wish I could see them with all their fine things on," said Betsy,
+again.
+
+"Well, you shall, Betsy," said good-hearted Mrs. Hawkins. "I'll make
+Jonas help me wash the dishes Sunday mornin', and you shall go to
+church."
+
+Betsy's face was wreathed in smiles.
+
+"You're so good to me, Mrs. Hawkins," she cried.
+
+"Well," answered Mrs. Hawkins, "you've worked like a Trojan the last
+week, and you deserve it. I guess if I go up in the attic I can git a
+good look at them as they're walking home from church."
+
+In her excitement the old lady dropped a cup and saucer on the floor,
+and both mistress and maid went down on their hands and knees to pick up
+the pieces.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+"THE BIRD OF LOVE."
+
+
+The carriage containing Quincy and Rosa was driven at a rapid rate
+toward the station. There was no time to lose, as some had already been
+lost in the altercation with Mrs. Colby. They had proceeded but a short
+distance, when Rosa took out a pocketbook, and, lifting her veil, turned
+her face to Quincy.
+
+What a striking face it was! Large, dark blue eyes, regular features, a
+light olive complexion, with a strong dash of red in each cheek, full
+red lips, and hair of almost raven blackness. Like lightning the thought
+flashed through Quincy's mind, "What a contrast to my Alice!" for he
+always used the pronoun when he thought of her.
+
+"Allow me to cancel part of my indebtedness to you," said Rosa, in a
+low, sweet voice, and Quincy again thought how pleasant that voice would
+be to Alice when Miss Very was reading to her.
+
+As Rosa spoke she handed Quincy a two-dollar bill and seventy-five cents
+in currency.
+
+"I owe you an explanation," she continued. "Mr. Ernst told me that I
+must be ready to accompany you the moment you called, so I packed and
+strapped my trunk last evening. When I returned from breakfast this
+morning I looked through my pocketbook, and found to my surprise that I
+lacked a quarter of a dollar of enough to pay for my week's lodging. In
+my haste I had put my jewel case, which contained the greater part of my
+money, in my trunk, and I realized that there would not be time to
+unpack and pack it again before your arrival. I offered Mrs. Colby the
+two seventy-five, and told her I would send her the balance in a letter
+as soon as I arrived at my destination. To my astonishment, she refused
+to take it, saying that she would have the three dollars or nothing."
+
+"If I had known that," said Quincy, "she would have got nothing."
+
+"Oh! it's all right," remarked Rosa, with a smile. "I know the poor
+woman has hard work to make a living, and I also know that she has lost
+considerable money from persons failing to pay at all or paying part of
+their bills and then not sending the balance, as they promised to do."
+
+"And did she get up all that ugliness for a quarter of a dollar?"
+inquired Quincy.
+
+"Oh! that wasn't the reason at all," replied Rosa; "I've always paid her
+promptly and in advance. She was mad because I was going away. If she
+lets the room right off she will get double rent this coming week, for
+it so happened my week ended last night."
+
+"Lodging-house keepers," said Quincy, "seem to be a class by themselves,
+and to have peculiar financial and moral codes. Here we are at the
+station," he added, as the carriage came to a stop.
+
+As Quincy handed Rosa from the carriage, his observant eye noticed that
+the hand placed in his was small and well-gloved, while the equally
+small feet were encased in a pair of dainty boots. "She is true to her
+French origin," he soliloquized, as they entered the
+station,--"well-booted, well-gloved. I am glad she is a lady."
+
+The train was soon on its way to Eastborough. It was an accommodation,
+and Quincy had plenty of time to point out the objects of interest on
+the way. Rosa was not a lover of the country. She acknowledged this to
+Quincy, saying that she was born and educated in the country, but that
+she preferred paved streets and brick sidewalks to green lanes and dusty
+roads.
+
+Alice had not waited for Quincy's return to broach the matter of the
+gift of the Putnam house to Ezekiel and Huldy. She had simply asked
+Quincy, so as to assure herself that there was no legal objection or
+reason why she should not make the transfer.
+
+After breakfast the next morning she told her uncle that she wished to
+have a talk with him in the parlor, and when they were alone together,
+she stated her intentions to him, as she had to Quincy. The old
+gentleman approved of her plan, only suggesting that it should be a
+swap; that is, that Ezekiel should deed the house in which they were, in
+which, in fact, she owned a half-interest, to her, so she would be sure
+of a home in case she lost part of her money, or all of it, or wished to
+live in the country.
+
+Most opportunely, Ezekiel and Huldy came over that morning to make a
+call, and the matter was soon under discussion in family conclave.
+
+Ezekiel at first objected strenuously to the gift. He would buy the
+house, he said, and pay so much a year on it, but both Alice and Uncle
+Ike protested that it was foolish for a young couple to start in life
+with such a heavy debt hanging over them.
+
+The only circumstance that led him to change his mind and agree to
+accept the Putnam homestead as a gift was Uncle Ike's suggestion that he
+deed the Pettengill homestead to Alice, and pay her all he received for
+the sale of products from the present Pettengill farm; but 'Zekiel would
+not accept any loan. He said Deacon Mason had given his daughter five
+thousand dollars outright, and that would be all the cash they would
+need to stock and carry on both the farms.
+
+Then 'Zekiel said he might as well settle on who was to live in the two
+houses. He knew that Cobb's twins would like to stay with him, and he
+would take them up to the Putnam house with him. Mrs. Pinkham had been
+hired by the executors to remain with Samanthy until some one came to
+live in the house. Ezekiel said Samanthy was a good girl, and he and
+Huldy both liked her, and he felt pretty sure she'd be willing to live
+with them, because she was used to the house, and as it was the only one
+she'd ever lived in, it would seem like going away from home if she left
+there and went somewhere else.
+
+Then 'Zekiel was of the opinion that Abbott Smith and Billy Ricker had
+better board with Hiram and Mandy, because the grocery teams and horses
+would have to be kept in the Pettengill barn, as there was no stable to
+the grocery store. "'Twon't be stealin' anythin' from Mrs. Hawkins if
+they don't board with her, cuz none of 'em ever lived with her afore."
+
+"Don't you think, 'Zekiel," asked Huldy, "that Uncle Ike ought to come
+down stairs and have a better room? It will be awful hot up there in the
+summer. Alice and I used to play up there, and in July and August it was
+hot enough to roast eggs, wasn't it, Alice?"
+
+Alice, thus appealed to, said it might have been hot enough, but she was
+positive that they never did roast any up there, although she remembered
+setting the attic floor on fire one day with a burning glass. 'Zekiel
+remembered that, too, and how they had to put new ceilings on two rooms,
+because he used so much water to put the fire out.
+
+When Uncle Ike got a chance to speak, he said to Huldy, "Thank you, my
+dear Mrs. Pettengill," with a strong accent on the Mrs., which made
+Huldy blush a rosy red, "but I wouldn't swap my old attic for all the
+rest of the rooms in the house. My old blood requires warmth, and I can
+stand ninety-six without asking for a fan. When I come up to see you,
+you can put me in one of your big square rooms, but I sha'n't stay long,
+because I don't like them."
+
+The noise of wheels was heard, and Huldy ran to the window to look out.
+
+"Oh, it's Mr. Sawyer," said she; "and he's got a young lady with him,
+and she's got a trunk. I wonder who she is? Do you know, Alice?"
+
+"I don't know who she is," replied Alice; "but I can imagine what she's
+here for."
+
+"Is it a secret?" asked Huldy.
+
+"No, not exactly a secret," replied Alice. "It's a business matter. I
+have a great many things to be read over to me, and considerable writing
+to do, and as Mr. Sawyer is going away, I was obliged to have some one
+to help me."
+
+"Well!" said Huldy, "you'll miss Mr. Sawyer when he goes away; I did.
+Now you mustn't get jealous, Mr. Pettengill," she said to 'Zekiel; "you
+know Mr. Sawyer and I were never in love with each other. That was all
+village gossip, started by, you know who, and as for Mr. Sawyer liking
+Lindy Putnam, or she liking him, I know better. She's never got over the
+loss of her brother Jones, who, it seems, wasn't her real brother, after
+all; and Samanthy Green told me the other day that Lindy wanted to marry
+him."
+
+"I think matters are getting rather too personal for me," said Uncle
+Ike, rising. "I may get drawn into it if I stay any longer. I always
+liked Lindy Putnam myself." And the old gentleman laughed heartily as he
+left the room.
+
+"Well, I guess you and me'd better be goin', if we want to be home at
+dinner time," said 'Zekiel to Huldy. Then, going to his sister, he took
+her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek. "You know, Alice," said he,
+"that I ain't much of a talker, but I shall never forget how good you've
+been to me and Huldy, and if the old house burns down or you get
+lonesome, you'll always find the latchstring out up to the new house,
+an' there'll be a room, an' board, an' good care for you as long as you
+want to stay. Eh, Huldy?" said 'Zekiel, turning to his wife.
+
+"You know, 'Zekiel," replied the impulsive Huldy, "I've said a dozen
+times that I wished Alice would come and live with us. Won't you,
+Alice?" she added. "I never had a sister, and I think it would be
+delightful to have one all to myself, especially," she added archly,
+"when I have her brother, too."
+
+"I could never live in that house," said Alice, with a slight shudder;
+"besides, I think my future path in life is being marked out for me by
+the hand of Fate, which I am powerless to resist. I am afraid that it
+will take me away from you, my dear ones; but if it does, I shall always
+love you both, and pray for your happiness and success."
+
+At the front door 'Zekiel and Huldy met Quincy. The latter had turned
+Miss Very over to the care of Mrs. Maxwell, and had got one of the twins
+to carry the young lady's trunk to her room, which was the one formerly
+occupied by Mandy. He had then driven the carryall around to the barn
+and was returning, anxious to bear his tidings of success to Alice, when
+he met the departing couple.
+
+"I hear you are going to leave us," said Huldy.
+
+"Who told you?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"Alice," replied Huldy; "and I told her she'd miss you very much when
+you were gone."
+
+"I am afraid," replied Quincy, "that any service that I have rendered
+Miss Pettengill has not been of so important a nature that it would be
+greatly missed. I am glad that I have succeeded in securing her a
+companion and assistant of her own sex, which will much more than
+compensate for the loss of my feeble services."
+
+"That's what I don't like about city folks," said Huldy Pettengill, as
+she walked along the path, hanging on her husband's arm.
+
+"What's that?" asked 'Zekiel bluntly.
+
+"Because," continued Huldy, "they use such big words to cover up their
+real feelings. Of course, he wouldn't let on to us, but any one with
+half an eye could see that he's head over heels in love with your
+sister Alice, and he'd stand on his head if she told him to."
+
+"Well, Alice is too sensible a girl to ask him to do that sort of
+thing," said 'Zekiel frankly. "Any way, I don't believe she's in love
+with him."
+
+"'Twould be a great match for her," said Huldy.
+
+"I don't know 'bout that. On general principles, I don't believe in
+country girls marryin' city fellers."
+
+"I know you don't," said Huldy, and she gave his arm a little squeeze.
+
+"But," continued 'Zekiel, "Alice is different from most country girls.
+Besides, she's lived in the city and knows city ways. Anyway, I sha'n't
+interfere; I know Mr. Sawyer is a respectable young man, and, by George!
+when he wants to do anything, don't he jest put it through. The way he
+sarcumvented that Strout was as good as a circus."
+
+"I think I sarcumvented that Strout, too," said Huldy, as they reached
+the corner of Deacon Mason's front fence.
+
+"You've been quite a little flirt in your day," remarked 'Zekiel, "but
+it's all over now;" and he squeezed the little hand that stole
+confidingly into his big, brawny one.
+
+Quincy at once entered the parlor and found Alice seated in her
+accustomed easy-chair.
+
+"You have returned, Sir Knight," was the remark with which Alice greeted
+him.
+
+"I have, fair lady," replied Quincy, in the same vein; "I have captured
+one of the enemy and brought her as a prisoner to your castle. Here are
+some documents," he continued, as he placed the proofs in Alice's hands,
+"that contain valuable secrets, and they will, no doubt, furnish strong
+evidence against the prisoner."
+
+"What is it?" asked Alice, holding up the package.
+
+"They are the proofs of three of your stories," replied Quincy,
+relapsing into commonplace; "and Leopold says they must be read and
+corrected at once. If we can attend to this during the afternoon and
+evening, I will go up to Boston again to-morrow morning." Quincy then
+told Alice about Rosa and the terms that he had made with her, and Alice
+expressed herself as greatly pleased with the arrangement. "You will
+find Miss Very a perfect lady," said Quincy, "with a low, melodious
+voice that will not jar upon your ears, as mine, no doubt, has often
+done."
+
+"You are unfair to yourself, when you say that," remarked Alice
+earnestly. "Your voice has never jarred upon my ears, and I have always
+been pleased to listen to you."
+
+Whether Quincy's voice would have grown softer and sweeter and his words
+more impassioned if the interview had continued, cannot be divined, for
+Mrs. Maxwell at that moment opened the parlor door and called out,
+"Dinner's ready," just as Mandy Skinner used to do in the days gone by.
+
+Miss Very was introduced to Alice and the others at the dinner table,
+and took the seat formerly occupied by 'Zekiel. Quincy consented to
+remain to dinner, as he knew his services would be required in the proof
+reading. When Cobb's twins reached the barn, after dinner, Jim said to
+Bill, "Isn't she a stunner! I couldn't keep my eyes off'n her."
+
+"Neither could I," rejoined Bill. "I tell yer, Jim, style comes nat'ral
+to city folks. I'll be durned if I know whether I had chicken or codfish
+for dinner."
+
+After the noonday meal the three zealous toilers in the paths of
+literature began work. Quincy read from the manuscript, Rosa held the
+proofs, while Alice listened intently, and from time to time made
+changes in punctuation or slight alterations in the language. No
+sentence had to be rewritten, and when the reading of the story, Was It
+Signed? was finished, Rosa said, "A remarkably clean set of proofs; only
+a few changes, and those slight ones. In the case of very few authors
+are their original ideas and second thoughts so harmonious. How do you
+manage it, Miss Pettengill?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know," replied Alice, with a smile, "unless it is that I
+keep my original ideas in my mind until they reach the stage of second
+thoughts, and then I have them written down."
+
+"You will find Miss Pettengill very exact in dictation," said Quincy to
+Rosa. "I took that long story there down in pencil, and I don't think I
+was obliged to change a dozen words."
+
+"To work with Miss Pettengill," remarked Rosa, "will be more of a
+pleasure than a task."
+
+This idea was re-echoed in Quincy's mind, and for a moment he had a
+feeling of positive envy towards Miss Very. Then he thought that hers
+was paid service, while his had been a labor--of love. Yes, it might as
+well be put that way.
+
+The sun had sunk quite low in the west when the second story, Her Native
+Land, was completed. "How dramatic!" cried Rosa; "the endings of those
+chapters are as strong as stage tableaus."
+
+"It is being dramatized by Jameson of the 'Daily Universe,'" said
+Quincy.
+
+"I am well acquainted with Mr. Jameson," remarked Rosa; "I belong to a
+social club of which he is the president. He is a very talented young
+man and a great worker. He once told me that when he began newspaper
+work he wrote eighteen hours out of twenty-four for a month, and nearly
+every night he woke up and made notes that he wrote out in the morning.
+Do you believe in unconscious mental cerebration, Mr. Sawyer?"
+
+"I'm afraid not," replied Quincy, laughing; "I never had ideas enough to
+keep my brain busy all day, much less supply it with work at night."
+
+"Mr. Sawyer is always unfair to himself," remarked Alice to Miss Very.
+"As for myself, I will answer your question in the affirmative. I have
+often gone to bed with only the general idea of a story in my mind, and
+have awakened with the details all thought out and properly placed."
+
+"I think it best to postpone the reading of the last story until after
+supper," said Quincy.
+
+Alice assented, and, turning to Rosa, asked, "Do you like the country,
+Miss Very?"
+
+"To speak honestly," replied Rosa, "I do not. I told Mr. Sawyer so on
+the train. It is hotter in the country than it is in the city. I can't
+bear the ticking of a clock in my room, and I think crickets and owls
+are more nerve-destroying than clocks, and I positively detest anything
+that buzzes and stings, like bees, and wasps, and hornets."
+
+"But don't you like cows, and sheep, and horses?" asked Alice; "I love
+them."
+
+"And I don't," said Rosa frankly. "I like beefsteak and roast lamb, but
+I never saw a cow that didn't have a ferocious glare in its eye when it
+looked at me." Both Quincy and Alice laughed heartily. "As for horses,"
+continued Rosa, "I never drive alone. When I'm with some one I alternate
+between hope and fear until I reach my destination."
+
+"I trust you were more hopeful than fearful on your way from Eastborough
+Centre," said Quincy.
+
+"Oh! I saw at a glance," remarked Rosa, "that you were a skilful driver,
+and I trusted you implicitly."
+
+"I have had to rely a great deal upon Mr. Sawyer," remarked Alice, "and,
+like yourself, I have always placed the greatest confidence in him.
+Huldy told me this morning, Mr. Sawyer, that I would miss you very much,
+and I know I shall."
+
+"But you will have Miss Very with you constantly," said Quincy.
+
+"Oh! she does not like the country," continued Alice, "and she will get
+homesick in a little while."
+
+"One's likes and one's duties often conflict," said Rosa; and a grave
+look settled upon her face. "But how can you write your book down here,
+Miss Pettengill? You will have to consult hundreds of books, if you
+intend to write an historical novel, as Mr. Sawyer told me you did. You
+ought to have access to the big libraries in Boston, and, besides, in
+the second-hand bookstores you can buy such treasures for a mere song,
+if you will only spend the time to hunt for them."
+
+"That reminds me," broke in Quincy, "that my aunt, Mrs. Chessman,--she
+is my mother's only sister, who lives on Mt. Vernon Street,--wished me
+to extend a cordial invitation to you two young ladies to visit her,
+while I am getting your summer home ready for you. She suggests
+Nantucket as the best place for work, but with every opportunity for
+enjoyment, when work becomes a burden."
+
+"Oh, that will be delightful," cried Rosa. "I love the sea, and there we
+shall have it all around us; and at night, the great dome of Heaven,
+studded with stars, will reach down to the sea on every side, and they
+say at 'Sconset, on the east end of the island, that when the breakers
+come in the sight is truly magnificent."
+
+Quincy was inwardly amused at Rosa's enthusiasm, but it served his
+purpose to encourage it, so he said, "I wish Aunt Ella were her to join
+forces with Miss Very. You would find it hard work to resist both of
+them, Miss Pettengill."
+
+"You mean all three of you," said Alice, with a smile.
+
+"If we go to Nantucket," added Rosa, "I shall have to spend a week in
+the city, and perhaps more. I have no dresses suitable for so long a
+residence at the beach."
+
+"Neither have I," coincided Alice, with a laugh.
+
+There the matter was dropped. Quincy knew too much, to press the
+question to a decision that evening. He had learned by experience that
+Alice never said yes or no until her mind was made up, and he knew that
+the answer was more likely to be favorable if he gave her plenty of time
+for reflection; besides, he thought that Alice might wish to know more
+particularly what his aunt said, for she would be likely to consider
+that his aunt must have some reason for giving such an invitation to two
+persons who were virtually strangers to her.
+
+After supper, the third story, How He Lost Both Name and Fortune, was
+read and corrected, and it was the unusually late hour of eleven o'clock
+before the lights in the Pettengill house were extinguished. It was past
+midnight when Quincy sought his room at Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house,
+and the picture of Alice Pettengill, that he had purloined so long ago,
+stood on a little table at the head of his bed, leaning against a large
+family Bible, which he found in the room.
+
+The next morning he was up early, and visited the grocery store. Mr.
+Strout and Hiram both assured him that business had picked up amazingly,
+and was really "splendid." The new wagons were building up trade very
+fast. Billy Ricker went over to Montrose for orders Monday, Wednesday,
+and Friday mornings, and delivered them in the afternoons. This gave
+Abbott Smith a chance to post up the books on those days, for he had
+been made bookkeeper. He went to Eastborough Centre and Westvale, the
+new name given to West Eastborough at the last town meeting, Tuesday,
+Thursday, and Saturday mornings. He delivered goods on the afternoons of
+those days, which gave him an opportunity to spend Sunday at home with
+his father and his family.
+
+When Quincy reached the Pettengill house, Mrs. Maxwell informed him that
+Miss Pettengill was in the parlor alone. After greeting Alice, Quincy
+asked, "But where is Miss Very?"
+
+"I told her I should not need her services until after I had seen you,"
+she replied. "I have a question to ask you Mr. Sawyer, and I know you
+will give me a truthful answer. What led your aunt to invite me to come
+and visit her?"
+
+Quincy knew that Alice had been considering the matter, and this one
+simple question, to which she expected a truthful answer, was the
+crucial test.
+
+He did not hesitate in replying. If he did, he knew the result would be
+fatal to his hopes.
+
+"Only the promptings of her own good nature. She is one of the
+warmest-hearted women in the world," continued Quincy. "I will tell you
+just how it happened. I told her I had found an assistant to help you in
+your work, and that the next thing was to fix upon a place for a summer
+residence. I asked her opinion, and after considering the advantages and
+disadvantages of a score of places, she finally settled upon Nantucket
+as being the most desirable. Then she said, 'While you are finding a
+place and getting it ready for them, ask Miss Pettengill to come and
+visit me and bring her friend. Tell her that I am rich, as far as money
+goes, but poor in love and companionship. Tell them both that I shall
+love to have them come and will do everything I can to make their visit
+a pleasant one.' Those were her words as nearly as I can remember them;"
+and Quincy waited silently for the decision.
+
+It soon came. Alice went to him and extended her hand, which Quincy
+took.
+
+"Tell her," said Alice in her quiet way, "that I thank her very much and
+that we will come."
+
+"How soon?" inquired Quincy anxiously and rather abruptly.
+
+"In a few days," replied Alice. "I can get ready much sooner with Miss
+Very to help me."
+
+She withdrew the hand, which she had unconsciously allowed to remain in
+his so long, and a slight flush mounted to her cheek, for Quincy had
+equally unconsciously given it a gentle pressure as he relinquished it.
+
+"I must do up these proofs," said he, going to the table. "I will get
+the next train to Boston. I will be back to-morrow noon, and in the
+afternoon I will drive over to Montrose about that deed of the Putnam
+house. I know Aunt Ella will be delighted to hear that you are coming."
+But he said nothing about his own delight at being the bearer of the
+tidings.
+
+When he had gone, Alice sat in her chair as she had many a time before
+and thought. As she sat there she realized more strongly than she had
+ever done that if Fate was marking out her course for her, it had
+certainly chosen as its chief instrument the masterful young man who had
+just left her.
+
+The remainder of that day and the morning of the next Alice spent in
+dictating to Rosa a crude general outline of Blennerhassett. During the
+work she was obliged, naturally, to address Rosa many times, and
+uniformly called her Miss Very. Finally Rosa said, "Wouldn't you just as
+soon call me Rosa? Miss Very seems so stiff and formal."
+
+"I hope you will not consider me uncompanionable or set in my ways,"
+remarked Alice. "We are working, you know, and not playing," she
+continued with a sweet smile. "I have no doubt you are worthy of both my
+esteem and love, but I have known you less than a day and such things
+come slowly with me. Let me call you Miss Very, because you are that to
+me now. When the time comes, as I feel it will, to call you Rosa, it
+shall come from a full heart. When I call you Rosa, it will be because I
+love you, and, after that, nothing will ever change my feelings towards
+you."
+
+"I understand you," replied Rosa. "I will work and wait."
+
+Quincy arrived at about the same time of day that he did when he came
+with Rosa. Miss Very had gone to her room, so that he saw Alice alone.
+He told her that his aunt was greatly pleased at her acceptance and
+would be ready to receive her at any time that it was convenient for her
+to come. He proffered his services to aid her in getting ready for the
+journey, but she told him that with Miss Very's help she would need no
+other assistance.
+
+"I have another matter of business to speak about," continued she, "and
+if you will kindly attend to that, when you go to Montrose, it will
+oblige me very much. You are always doing something to make me your
+debtor," she added with a smile.
+
+"I would do more if you would allow me," replied Quincy.
+
+"The fact is," said Alice, "'Zekiel does not wish to borrow any money,
+nor would he accept the gift of the Putnam homestead unless he, in turn,
+deeded this house and farm to me. He is going to run this farm and pay
+me what he gets from the sale of products. If you will have Squire
+Rundlett draw up both deeds and the agreement, the whole matter can be
+fixed before I go away."
+
+Quincy promised to give his attention to the matter that afternoon. He
+drove up to his boarding house and hitched his horse at the front door.
+Mrs. Hawkins saw him enter and take his seat at the dinner table.
+"There's that Mr. Sawyer; he's slept in this house just one night and
+eaten just one meal up to this noon for nigh on a week. Them city folks
+must have Injun rubber stummicks and cast iron backs or they couldn't
+eat in so many different places and sleep in so many different beds.
+Why, if I go away and stay over night, when I git home I'm allus
+sicker'n a horse and tired enough to drop."
+
+Quincy went to Montrose that afternoon and saw Squire Rundlett. The
+latter promised to make the papers out the next day, and said he would
+bring them over for signing the following morning. Quincy drove down to
+Deacon Mason's and told 'Zekiel when to be on hand, and after leaving
+the team in the Pettengill barn, saw Alice and informed her of the
+Squire's proposed visit. He told her that he would come down that
+morning to act as a witness, if his services were required.
+
+He spent the next day at the grocery store, going over the stock with
+Strout and Abbott Smith, and had a list made of articles that they
+thought it would be advisable to carry in the future. He told Strout
+that he would visit some wholesale grocery houses in Boston and have
+samples sent down.
+
+"Mr. Sawyer is improvin'," said Mrs. Hawkins to Betsy the next morning
+after breakfast. "He's slept in his bed two nights runnin', and he's eat
+four square meals, and seemed to enjoy them, too. I guess he didn't git
+much when he was jumpin' 'round so from one place to another."
+
+Squire Rundlett kept his word, and the legal documents were duly signed
+and executed. Alice told the Squire that she was going away for several
+months, and that she would undoubtedly send to him from time to time.
+
+"My dear Miss Pettengill," replied the gallant Squire, "you shall have
+all you ask for if I have to sell my best horse and mortgage my house.
+But I don't think it will be necessary," he added. "Some more dividends
+and interest have come in and I have more than a thousand dollars to
+your credit now."
+
+After the Squire had left, Alice told Quincy that her preparations were
+all made, and that she would be ready to go to Boston the next day. The
+mid-day train was fixed upon. After dinner that day, Quincy informed
+Mrs. Hawkins that he wished to pay his bill in full, as he should leave
+for good the next day.
+
+Holding the money in her hand, Mrs. Hawkins entered the kitchen and
+addressed Betsy.
+
+"Just what I expected," said she; "jest as that Mr. Sawyer got to
+stayin' home nights and eating his meals like a Christian, he ups an'
+gits. I guess it'll be a dry summer. I kinder thought them two boys over
+to the grocery would come here, but I understand they're goin' down to
+Pettengill's, and somebody told me that Strout goes over to Eastborough
+Centre every Sunday now. I s'pose he's tryin' to shine up again to that
+Bessie Chisholm, that he used to be sweet on. When he goes to keepin'
+house there'll be another boarder gone;" and the poor woman, having
+borrowed enough trouble, sat down and wiped a supposed tear out of each
+eye with her greasy apron.
+
+Quincy reached Aunt Ella's residence with the young ladies about noon.
+Aunt Ella gave the three travellers a hearty welcome, and the young
+ladies were shown at once to their rooms, which were on the third floor
+at the front of the house. They were connected, so that Rosa could be
+close at hand in case Alice should need assistance.
+
+While the footman and Buttons were taking the trunks upstairs, Quincy
+asked his aunt if he could leave his trunk there for a short time. "I do
+not wish to take it home," he said, "until after I have the ladies
+settled at Nantucket. The carriage is waiting outside and I am going to
+get the one o'clock train."
+
+"I will take good care of your trunk," said Aunt Ella, "and you, too, if
+you will come and live with me. But can't you stop to lunch with us?"
+she asked. But Quincy declined, and requesting his aunt to say good-by
+to the young ladies for him, he entered the carriage and was driven off.
+
+After luncheon, which was served in the dining-room, General Chessman
+and Aides-de-Camp Pettengill and Very held a counsel of war in the
+General's private tent. It was decided that the mornings should be
+devoted, for a while, at least, to shopping and visiting modistes and
+milliners. Miss Very was also to give some of her time to visits to the
+libraries and the second-hand bookstores looking for books that would be
+of value to Alice in her work. The afternoons were to be passed in
+conversation and in listening to Miss Very's reading from the books that
+she had purchased or taken from the libraries. The evenings were to be
+filled up with music, and the first one disclosed the pleasing fact
+that Miss Very had a rich, full contralto voice that had been well
+cultivated and that she could play Beethoven or the songs of the day
+with equal facility.
+
+While the feminine trio were thus enjoying themselves in Boston with an
+admixture of work and play, Quincy was busily engaged at Nantucket in
+building a nest for them, as he called it.
+
+He had found a large, old-fashioned house on the bluff at the north
+shore, overlooking the harbor, owned by Mrs. Gibson. She was a widow
+with two children, one a boy of about nineteen, named Thomas, and the
+other a girl of twelve, named Dorothy, but generally designated as Tommy
+and Dolly.
+
+Mrs. Gibson consented to let her second floor for a period of four
+months, and to supply them with meals. The price was fixed upon, and
+Quincy knew he had been unusually lucky in securing so desirable a
+location at such a reasonable price.
+
+There were three rooms, one a large front room, with a view of the
+harbor, and back of it two sleeping rooms, looking out upon a large
+garden at the rear of the house. Quincy mentally surveyed the large room
+and marked the places with a piece of chalk upon the carpet where the
+piano and the bookcase were to go. Then he decided that the room needed
+a lounge and a desk with all necessary fixtures and stationery for Rosa
+to work at. There were some stiff-backed chairs in the room, but he
+concluded that a low easy-chair, like the one Alice had at home, and a
+couple of wicker rocking chairs, which would be cool and comfortable
+during the hot summer days, were absolutely essential.
+
+He then returned to Boston, hired an upright piano and purchased the
+other articles, including a comfortable office-chair to go with the
+desk. He was so afraid that he would forget some article of stationery
+that he made a list and checked it off. But this did not satisfy him.
+He spent a whole morning in different stationery stores looking over
+their stocks to make sure that he had omitted nothing. The goods were
+packed and shipped by express to Mrs. Thomas Gibson, Nantucket, Mass.
+Then, and not till then, did Quincy seek his aunt's residence with the
+intelligence that the nest was builded and ready for the birds. When he
+informed the ladies that everything was ready for their reception at
+their summer home, Aunt Ella said that their departure would have to be
+delayed for a few days, as the delinquent dressmakers had failed to
+deliver certain articles of wearing apparel. This argument was, of
+course, unanswerable, and Quincy devoted the time to visiting the
+wholesale grocers, as he had promised Strout that he would do, and to
+buying and shipping a long list of books that Miss Very informed him
+Miss Pettengill needed for her work. He learned that during his absence
+the proofs of The Man Without a Tongue had been brought over by Mr.
+Ernst and read and corrected, Aunt Ella taking Quincy's place as reader.
+
+At last all was ready, and on the tenth of May a party of three ladies
+and one gentleman was driven to the station in time for the one o'clock
+train. They had lunched early and the whole party was healthy, happy,
+and in the best of spirits. Then came the leave-takings. The two young
+ladies and the gentleman sped away upon the train, while the middle-aged
+lady started for home in her carriage, telling herself a dozen times on
+the way that she knew she would be lonesomer than ever when she got
+there.
+
+The trip by train and boat was uneventful. Alice sat quietly and enjoyed
+the salt sea breeze, while both Quincy and Rosa entertained her with
+descriptions of the bits of land and various kinds of sailing craft that
+came in sight. It was nearly seven o'clock when the steamer rounded
+Brant Point. In a short time it was moored to the wharf, and the party,
+with their baggage, were conveyed swiftly to Mrs. Gibson's, that lady
+having been notified by Quincy to expect them at any moment. He did not
+enter the house. He told Miss Very to address him care of his aunt if
+they needed anything, and that Mr. Ernst and himself would come down
+when Miss Pettengill had completed two or three chapters of her book.
+Quincy then bade them good-by and was driven to a modest hotel close to
+the steamboat wharf. He took the morning boat to Boston, and that
+afternoon informed Aunt Ella of the safe arrival of his fair charges.
+
+"What are you going to do now?" asked Aunt Ella.
+
+"I'm going to find my father," replied Quincy, "and through him secure
+introductions to the other members of my family."
+
+"Good-by," said Aunt Ella; "if they don't treat you well come and stay
+with me and we will go to Old Orchard together about the first of June.
+I never skip out the last of April, because I always enjoy having a talk
+with the assessor when he comes around in May."
+
+When Rosa took her seat at the new desk next morning, she exclaimed with
+delight, "What a nice husband Mr. Sawyer would make!"
+
+"What makes you think so?" inquired Alice gravely.
+
+"Because he'd be such a good hand to go shopping," Rosa answered. "I've
+been all over this desk twice and I don't believe he has forgotten a
+single thing that we are likely to need."
+
+"Good work requires good tools," remarked Alice.
+
+"And a good workman," interposed Rosa.
+
+"Then we have every adjunct for success," said Alice, "and we will
+commence just where we left off at Mrs. Chessman's."
+
+The work on the book progressed famously. Alice was in fine mental
+condition and Rosa seemingly took as much interest in its progress as
+did her employer. In three weeks the three opening chapters had been
+written. "I wonder what Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Ernst will think of that?"
+said Alice, as Rosa wrote the last line of the third chapter.
+
+"I am going to write to Mr. Sawyer to-day. We must have those books
+before we can go much farther. Would it not be well to tell him that we
+are ready for our audience?"
+
+Alice assented, and the letter reached Quincy one Friday evening, it
+being his last call on his aunt before her departure for Old Orchard.
+"Give my love to both of them," said Aunt Ella, "and tell Alice I send
+her a kiss. I won't tell you how to deliver it; you will probably find
+some way before you come back."
+
+Quincy protested that he could not undertake to deliver it, but his aunt
+only laughed, kissed him, bade him good-by, and told him to be sure and
+come down to Maine to see her.
+
+Quincy and Leopold took the Saturday afternoon boat and arrived, as
+usual, about seven o'clock. They both repaired to the hotel previously
+patronized by Quincy, having decided to defer their call upon the young
+ladies until Sunday morning. It was a bright, beautiful day, not a cloud
+was to be seen in the broad, blue expanse above them. A cool breeze was
+blowing steadily from the southwest, and as the young men walked down
+Centre Street towards the Cliff, Leopold remarked that he did not wonder
+that the Nantucketers loved their "tight little isle" and were sorry to
+leave it. "One seems to be nearer Heaven here than he does in a crowded
+city, don't he, Quincy?" Quincy thought to himself that his Heaven was
+in Nantucket, and that he was very near to it, but he did not choose to
+utter these feelings to his friend, so he merely remarked that the sky
+did seem much nearer.
+
+They soon reached Mrs. Gibson's and were shown directly to the young
+ladies' parlor and library, for it answered both purposes. They were
+attired in two creations of Mrs. Chessman's dressmaker, Aunt Ella having
+selected the materials and designed the costumes, for which art she had
+a great talent. Rosa's dress was of a dark rose tint, with revers and a
+V-shaped neck, filled in with tulle of a dark green hue. The only other
+trimming on the dress was a green silk cord that bordered the edges of
+the revers and the bottom of the waist. As Quincy looked at her, for she
+sat nearest to the door, she reminded him of a beautiful red rose, and
+the green leaves which enhanced its beauty. Then his eyes turned quickly
+to Alice, who sat in her easy-chair, near the window. Her dress was of
+light blue, with square-cut neck, filled in with creamy white lace. In
+her hair nestled a flower, light pink in color, and as Quincy looked at
+her he thought of the little blue flower called forget-me-not, and
+recalled the fact that wandering one day in the country, during his last
+year at college, he had come upon a little brook, both sides of which,
+for hundreds of feet, were lined with masses of this modest little
+flower. Ah! but this one forget-me-not was more to him than all the
+world beside.
+
+The greetings were soon over, and Quincy was assured by both young
+ladies that they were happy and contented, and that every requisite for
+their comfort had been supplied by Mrs. Gibson.
+
+The reading then began. Rosa possessed a full, flexible, dramatic voice,
+and the strong passages were delivered with great fervor, while the sad
+or sentimental ones were tinged with a tone of deep pathos.
+
+At the conclusion Alice said, "I wish Miss Very could read my book to
+the publishers."
+
+"You forget," remarked Leopold, with a laugh, "that reading it to me
+will probably amount to the same thing."
+
+A merry party gathered about Mrs. Gibson's table at dinner, after which
+they went for a drive through the streets of the quaint old town. Quincy
+had, as the phrenologists say, a great bump for locality. Besides, he
+had studied a map of the town while coming down, and, as he remarked,
+they couldn't get lost for any great length of time, as Nantucket was an
+island, and the water supplied a natural boundary to prevent their
+getting too far out of their way.
+
+While Dolly Gibson was helping her mother by wiping the dinner dishes,
+she said, with that air of judicial conviction that is shown by some
+children, that she guessed that the lady in the red dress was Mr.
+Leopold's girl, and that the blind lady in the blue dress was Mr.
+Quincy's.
+
+After a light supper they again gathered in the parlor and an hour was
+devoted to music. Leopold neither played nor sang, but he was an
+attentive and critical listener. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and
+Leopold asked Rosa if she would not like to take a walk up on the Cliff.
+She readily consented, but Alice pleasantly declined Quincy's invitation
+to accompany them, and for the first time since the old days at Mason's
+Corner, he and she were alone together.
+
+They talked of Eastborough and Mason's Corner and Aunt Ella for a while.
+Then conversation lagged and they sat for a time in a satisfied,
+peaceful silence.
+
+Suddenly Quincy spoke. "I had almost forgotten, Miss Pettengill, I
+bought a new song yesterday morning, and I brought it with me. If you
+have no objection I will try, it over."
+
+"I always enjoy your singing," she replied.
+
+He ran down stairs and soon returned with the music. He seated himself
+at the piano and played the piece through with great expression.
+
+"It is a beautiful melody," remarked Alice. "What is it?"
+
+"It is a German song," replied Quincy, "by Reichardt. It is called
+'Love's Request.' I will sing it this time."
+
+And he did sing it with all the force and fervor of a noble, manly
+nature, speaking out his love covertly in the words of another, but
+hoping in his heart that the beautiful girl who listened to him would
+forget the author and think only of the singer. How many times young
+lovers have tried this artful trick, and in what proportion it has been
+successful only Heaven knows.
+
+"The words are very pretty, are they not?" said Alice. "I was listening
+so closely to the melody that I did not catch them all."
+
+"I will read them to you," rejoined Quincy, and going to the window,
+where the light was still bright enough, he read the words of the song
+in a low, impassioned voice:
+
+    "Now the day is slowly waning,
+      Evening breezes softly, softly moan;
+    Wilt thou ne'er heed my complaining,
+      Canst thou leave me thus alone?
+    Stay with me, my darling, stay!
+      And, like a dream, thy life shall pass away,
+      Like a dream shall pass away.
+
+    "Canst thou thus unmoved behold me,
+      Still untouched by love, by love so deep?
+    Nay, thine arms more closely fold me,
+      And thine eyes begin to weep!
+    Stay with me, my darling, stay!
+      And, like a dream, thy life shall pass away,
+      Like a dream shall pass away.
+
+    "No regret shall e'er attend thee,
+      Ne'er shall sorrow dim thine eyes;
+    'Gainst the world's alarms to 'fend thee,
+      Gladly, proudly, would I die!
+    Stay with me, my darling, stay!
+      And, like a dream, thy life shall pass away,
+      Shall pass away."
+
+As Quincy finished reading, Leopold and Rosa came suddenly into the
+room.
+
+"We were not eavesdropping," explained Leopold, "but just as we were
+going to enter the room we heard your voice and knew that you were
+either reading or speaking a piece, so we waited until you had
+finished."
+
+"I was only reading the words of a new song that I brought down to Miss
+Pettengill," said Quincy; "she liked the melody and I thought she would
+appreciate it still more if she knew the words."
+
+"Exactly," said Leopold; "that's the reason I don't like opera, I mean
+the singing part. All that I can ever make out sounds like oh! ah! ow!
+and when I try to read the book in English and listen to the singers at
+the same time I am lost in a hopeless maze."
+
+The young gentlemen were soon on their way to their hotel, and the next
+afternoon found them again in Boston.
+
+The month of June was a busy, but very enjoyable one, for both Alice and
+Rosa. They were up early in the morning and were at work before
+breakfast. They ate heartily and slept soundly. Every pleasant
+afternoon, when tea was over, they went riding. Tommy Gibson held the
+reins, and although Dolly was not yet in her teens, she knew every nook
+and corner, and object of interest on the island, and she took a child's
+delight in pointing them out, and telling the stories that she had heard
+about them. The books that Quincy brought on his last visit were
+utilized, and Miss Very made up another list to be sent to him before
+his next visit.
+
+The proofs of three more stories Mr. Ernst sent down by mail, and after
+correction, they were returned to him in a similar manner. Little Dolly
+Gibson was impressed into service as a reader, for Rosa could not read
+and correct at the same time, and there was no obliging Mr. Sawyer near
+at hand. As Huldy had said, Alice did miss him. It must be said, in all
+truthfulness, not so much for himself, but for the services he had
+rendered. As yet, Alice's heart was untouched.
+
+When Dolly Gibson showed her mother the money that Miss Very had given
+her, at Alice's direction, she was told to take it right back at once,
+but Dolly protested that she had earned it, and when her mother asked
+her to tell how, the child, whose memory was phenomenal, sat down and
+made her mother's hair stand almost on end and her blood almost run cold
+with her recitals of the Eight of Spades, The Exit of Mrs. Delmonnay,
+and He Thought He Was Dead.
+
+"They are immense," cried Dolly, "they beat all the fairy stories I ever
+read!"
+
+In due time another letter was sent to Mr. Sawyer, informing him that
+more books were needed, and that more chapters were ready, and on the
+morning of the last Sunday in June the young ladies were awaiting the
+arrival of Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Ernst.
+
+The morning had opened with a heavy shower and the sky was still
+overcast with angry-looking, threatening rain clouds. Within the little
+parlor all was bright and cheerful.
+
+Familiar voices were heard greeting Mrs. Gibson and the children, and
+men's footsteps soon sounded upon the stairs. Leopold entered first,
+and, advancing to Rosa, handed her a large bouquet of beautiful red
+roses.
+
+"Sweets to the sweet, roses to Miss Rosa," said he, as he bowed and
+presented them.
+
+"They are beautiful," she exclaimed.
+
+"All roses are considered so," he remarked with a smile.
+
+While this little byplay was going on, Quincy had approached Alice, who,
+as usual, was sitting by the window, and placed in her hand a small
+bunch of flowers. As he did so he said in a low voice, "They are
+forget-me-nots. There is a German song about them, of which I remember a
+little," and he hummed a few measures.
+
+"Oh! thank you," cried Alice, as she held the flowers before her eyes in
+a vain effort to see them. "The music is pretty. Can't you remember any
+of the words?"
+
+"Only a few," replied Quincy. Then he repeated in a low, but clear
+voice:
+
+    "There is the sweet flower
+     They call forget-me-not;
+     That flower place on thy breast,
+     And think of me."
+
+"Say, Quincy, can't you come over here and recite a little poem about
+roses to Miss Very, just to help me out?" cried Leopold. "All I can
+think of is:
+
+    "The rose is red,
+     The violet's blue--"
+
+"Stop where you are," said Rosa laughingly, "for that will do."
+
+Alice dropped the forget-me-nots, in her lap. The illusion was
+dispelled.
+
+The newly-completed chapters were next read, and quite a spirited
+discussion took place in regard to the political features introduced in
+one of them. Dinner intervened and then the discussion was resumed.
+
+Alice maintained that to write about Aaron Burr and omit politics would
+be the play of "Hamlet," with Hamlet left out; and her auditors were
+charmed and yet somewhat startled at the impassioned and eloquent manner
+in which she defended Burr's political principles.
+
+When she finished Leopold said, "Miss Pettengill, if you will put in
+your book the energetic defence that you have just made, I will withdraw
+my objections."
+
+"You will find that and more in the next chapter," Alice replied.
+
+And the reading was resumed.
+
+The angry, threatening clouds had massed themselves once more; the
+thunder roared; the lightning flashed and the rain fell in torrents.
+
+Leopold walked to the window and looked out. "Walking is out of the
+question," said he; "will you come for a sail?"
+
+Music filled the evening, and during a lull in the storm the young men
+reached their lodgings.
+
+Another month had nearly passed. The weather was much warmer, but there
+was a great incentive to hard work--the book was nearly finished. Quincy
+had sent down a package of books soon after his return home, and Alice
+and Rosa had worked even harder than in June.
+
+Another letter went from Miss Very to Mr. Sawyer. It contained but a few
+words: "The book is done. Miss Pettengill herself wrote the words, 'The
+end,' on the last page, signed her name, and dated it 'July 30, 186--.'
+She awaits your verdict."
+
+The first Sunday in August found the young ladies again expectant. Once
+more they sat on a Sunday morning awaiting the advent of their gentlemen
+friends. The day was pleasant, but warm. Soon a voice was heard at the
+front door. Both ladies listened intently; but one person, evidently,
+was coming upstairs. Alice thought it must be Mr. Sawyer, while Rosa
+said to herself, "I think it must be Mr. Ernst."
+
+A light knock, the door was opened and Quincy entered.
+
+Rosa looked up inquiringly.
+
+"Mr. Ernst," said Quincy, "wished me to present his regrets at not being
+able to accompany me. The fact is he will be very busy this coming week.
+He is going to try to close up his work, so that he can come down next
+Saturday. He intends to take a month's vacation. I shall come with him,
+and we will endeavor to have a fitting celebration of the completion of
+your book, Miss Pettengill. You young ladies look very cool and
+comfortable this hot day."
+
+They were both dressed in white, Alice with a sash of blue, while Rosa
+wore one of pink.
+
+"Then we shall have no reading till next Sunday," remarked Rosa.
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, seating himself in one of the willow rockers; "we
+have decided upon the following programme, if it meets with Miss
+Pettengill's approval. I am to listen to the remainder of the book
+to-day. I will hand the complete manuscript over to him to-morrow
+afternoon. He will then finish the chapters that he has not read and
+turn the work over to his firm, with his approval, before he comes down
+for his rest. If the work is accepted, Mr. Morton, one of the firm, will
+write him to that effect."
+
+"The plan is certainly satisfactory to me," said Alice, "and Miss Very
+and I will be delighted to contribute our aid to the proposed
+celebration."
+
+Rosa then resumed her reading. But dinner time came before it was
+completed. At that meal they were all introduced to Captain Henry
+Marble.
+
+"My only brother," Mrs. Gibson said, by way of introduction. "He's just
+home from a cruise. His ship is at New Bedford. He is going to take the
+children out late this afternoon for a sail in the harbor. He always
+does when he comes here. Wouldn't you ladies and Mr. Sawyer like to go
+with him?"
+
+Captain Marble repeated the invitation, adding that he was an old
+sailor, that he had a large sailboat, and that they were "only going to
+Wauwinet, not out to sea, you know, but only up the inner harbor, which
+is just like a pond, you know."
+
+
+Rosa thought it would be delightful, but such a trip had no attractions
+for Alice, and it was finally decided that Rosa should go, while Alice
+and Mr. Sawyer would remain at home.
+
+The reading of the remaining chapters of Blennerhassett was completed by
+three o'clock, and at quarter of four, Miss Very, attired in a natty
+yachting costume, which formed part of her summer outfit, was ready to
+accompany Captain Marble and the children on their trip.
+
+When they were alone Quincy turned to Alice and said, "I bought another
+song yesterday morning, which I thought you might like to hear."
+
+"Is it another German song?" asked Alice.
+
+"No," replied Quincy, as he took a roll from the piano and opened it.
+"It is a duet; the music is by Bosco, but you can tell nothing by that.
+The composer's real name may be Jones or Smith."
+
+He seated himself at the piano and played it through, as he had done
+with that other song two long months before.
+
+"I think it more beautiful than the other," said Alice. "Are the words
+as sweet as those in that other song?"
+
+"Then you have not forgotten the other one," said Quincy, earnestly.
+
+"How could I forget it?" answered Alice. "Rosa has sung it to me several
+times, but it did not sound to me as it did when you sang it."
+
+"I will sing this one to you," said he; and Alice came and stood by his
+side at the piano.
+
+Quincy felt that the time to which he had looked forward so long had
+come at last. He could restrain the promptings of his heart no longer.
+He loved this woman, and she must know it; even if she rejected that
+love, he must tell her.
+
+"It is called 'The Bird of Love,'" he said. Then he played the prelude
+to the song. He sang as he had never sung before; all the power and
+pathos and love that in him lay were breathed forth in the words and
+music of that song.
+
+With his voice lingering upon the last word, he turned and looked up at
+Alice. Upon her face there was a startled, almost frightened look.
+
+"Shall I read the words to you, Miss Pettengill?" There was almost a
+command in the way he said it. His love had o'ermastered his politeness.
+
+Alice said nothing, but bowed her head.
+
+Then Quincy recited the words of the song. He had no need to read them,
+for he knew them by heart. It seemed to him that he had written the
+words himself. He did not even remember the author's name, and Alice
+stood with bowed head and closed eyes and drank in these words as they
+fell from his lips:
+
+        In this heart of mine the bird of love
+        Has built a nest,
+        Has built a nest.
+        And so she has in mine!
+    Response:
+        And so she has in mine!
+
+        And she toils both day and night, no thought
+        Of food or rest
+        Of food or rest,
+        And sings this song divine.
+    Response:
+        And sings this song divine.
+    Duet:
+        All the day long,
+        Such a sweet song,
+        Teaching love true,
+        I love! Do you?
+
+When Quincy came to the last line, instead of reading it he turned to
+the piano and sang it with even more passion in his voice than at first.
+
+"Will you try it over with me?" he said. And without waiting for her
+reply he dashed off the prelude.
+
+Their voices rang out together until they reached the line, "And so she
+has in mine." As Alice sang these words she opened her eyes and looked
+upward. A smile of supreme joy spread over and irradiated her face. Her
+voice faltered; she stopped, then she caught at the piano with her right
+hand. She tottered and would have fallen if Quincy had not sprung up and
+taken her in his arms.
+
+"Is it true, Alice?" cried he; "is it so? Can you truly say, 'And so she
+has in mine?'"
+
+And Alice looked up at him with that glorious smile still upon her face
+and softly whispered, "'And so she has in mine,' Quincy."
+
+Quincy led her to the lounge by the window, through which the cool
+evening breeze was blowing, and they sat down side by side. It has been
+truly said that the conversations of lovers are more appreciated by
+themselves than by anybody else, and it is equally true that at the most
+tender moment, in such conversations, intensely disagreeable
+interruptions are likely to occur.
+
+Sometimes it is the well-meaning but unthinking father; again it is the
+solicitous but inquisitive mother; but more often it is the unregenerate
+and disrespectful young brother or sister. In this case it was Miss Rosa
+Very, who burst into the room, bright and rosy, after her trip upon the
+water. As she entered she cried out, "Oh! you don't know what you
+missed. I had a most delightful--" She stopped short, the truth flashed
+upon her that there were other delightful ways of passing the time than
+in a sailboat. She was in a dilemma.
+
+Quincy solved the problem. He simply said, "Good-by, Alice, for one
+short week."
+
+He turned, expecting to see Miss Very, but she had vanished. He clasped
+Alice in his arms, and kissed her, for the first time, then he led her
+to her easy-chair and left her there.
+
+As he quitted the room and closed the door he met Miss Rosa Very in the
+entry.
+
+"I did not know," said she, "but I am so glad to know it. She is the
+sweetest, purest, loveliest woman I have ever known, and your love is
+what she needed to complete her happiness. She will be a saint now. I
+will take good care of her, Mr. Sawyer, until you come again, for I love
+her, too."
+
+Quincy pressed her hand warmly, and the next moment was in the little
+street. He was a rich man, as the world judges riches, but to him his
+greatest treasure was Alice's first kiss, still warm upon his lips.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+THEN THEY WERE MARRIED.
+
+
+When he bade Alice good-by for a week, Quincy was keeping a promise he
+had made to his father. The second evening before he had spent with his
+family at Nahant, and while he was smoking an after-dinner cigar upon
+the veranda, the Hon. Nathaniel had joined him.
+
+"Quincy," said the latter, "I must ask you when you intend to resume
+your professional duties. You are now restored to health, and it is my
+desire that you do so at once."
+
+"While I would not wilfully show disrespect to your wishes, father,"
+said Quincy, calmly, "I must say frankly that I do not care to go back
+to the office. The study of law is repugnant to me, and its practice
+would be a daily martyrdom."
+
+"What!" cried the Hon. Nathaniel, starting in his chair. "Perhaps, sir,
+you have fixed upon a calling that is more elevated and ennobling than
+the law."
+
+"One more congenial, at any rate," remarked Quincy.
+
+"Then you have chosen a profession," said his father with some
+eagerness. "May I inquire what it is?"
+
+"It can hardly be called a profession," he answered. "I've bought a
+third interest in a country grocery store."
+
+If the Hon. Nathaniel started before, this last piece of information
+fairly brought him to his feet. "And may I inquire, sir," he thundered,
+"if this special partnership in a country grocery store is the summit of
+your ambitions? I suppose I shall hear next that you are engaged to some
+farmer's daughter, and propose to marry her, regardless of the wishes
+of your family, and despite the terrible example supplied by your Uncle
+James."
+
+"It hasn't come to that yet," remarked Quincy, calmly, "but it may if I
+find a farmer's daughter who comes up to my ideal of a wife and to whom
+I can give an honest love."
+
+The Hon. Nathaniel sank back in his chair. Quincy continued, "I will not
+try to answer your sarcastic reference to the grocery store. It is a
+good investment and an honorable business, fully as honorable as
+cheating the prison or the gallows of what is due them; but the summit
+of my ambition is by no means reached. I am young yet and have plenty of
+time to study the ground before expanding my career, but I will tell
+you, privately and confidentially, that my friends have asked me to run
+for the General Court, and I have about decided to stand as a candidate
+for nomination as representative from our district."
+
+"I am glad to hear you say that, Quincy," said his father, somewhat
+mollified, and he edged his arm-chair a little closer to his son,
+despite the heavy clouds of smoke emitted from Quincy's cigar. "If you
+get the regular nomination in our district it's tantamount to an
+election. I need scarcely say that whatever influence I may possess will
+be exerted in your favor."
+
+"Thank you," said Quincy; "I mean to stump the district, anyway. If I
+lose the regular nomination I shall take an independent one. I had
+rather fight my way in than be pushed in."
+
+His father smiled and patted him on the arm. Then they rose from their
+chairs, Quincy observing that as he was going away early in the morning
+he would immediately retire.
+
+"That reminds me," said his father. "I have a favor to ask of you,
+Quincy. It is this, Lord Algernon Hastings, heir to the earldom of
+Sussex, and his sister, Lady Elfrida, are now in Boston, and bring
+letters from the Lord High Chancellor, with whom I became acquainted
+when I was in England, two years ago. I have invited them to visit us
+here next week, and my wish is that you will spend as much of your time
+at home as possible and assist me in entertaining them--I mean the son,
+of course, particularly."
+
+Quincy's thoughts flew quickly to Nantucket and back. Had he foreseen
+what was to happen on his coming visit, he would have hesitated still
+longer, but thinking that, after all, next Sunday's journey might not
+end any more conclusively than the previous one, he presently turned to
+his father and answered:
+
+"I will do so. I must go to-morrow, but I will return early on Monday,
+and will stay at home the entire week."
+
+"I thank you very much, Quincy," said the Hon. Nathaniel, and he laid
+his hand on his son's shoulder as affectionately as he was capable of
+doing, when they entered the house.
+
+Lady Elfrida Hastings and her brother, Lord Algernon, arrived in due
+season, and Quincy was there to assist at their reception. The former
+was tall, and dark, and stately; her features were cast in a classic
+mould, but the look in her eye was cold and distant, and the face,
+though having all the requirements of beauty, yet lacked it. To Mrs.
+Sawyer and her daughter, Florence, the Lady Elfrida was a revelation,
+and they yearned to acquire that statuesque repose that comes so natural
+to the daughter of an earl. But Maude told her brother that evening that
+the Lady Elfrida was a "prunes and prisms," and was sure to die an old
+maid.
+
+Lord Algernon was tall and finely built; he had a profusion of light
+brown curly hair, and a pair of large blue eyes that so reminded Quincy
+of Alice that he took to the young lord at once. They rode, played
+billiards, bowled, and smoked together.
+
+One afternoon while they were enjoying a sail in the bay, Quincy
+inquired of his guest how he liked America.
+
+"'Pon honor, my dear fellow, I don't know," replied Lord Algernon. "I
+came here for a certain purpose, and have failed miserably. I am going
+to sail for home in a week, if my sister will go."
+
+"Then you didn't come to enjoy the pleasures of travel?" remarked
+Quincy, interrogatively.
+
+"No! By Jove, I didn't. My sister did, and she supposes I did. I'm going
+to tell you the truth, Mr. Sawyer. I know you will respect my
+confidence." Quincy nodded.
+
+"The fact is," Lord Algernon continued, "I came over here to find a girl
+that I'm in love with, but who ran away from me as soon as I told her of
+it."
+
+"But why?" asked Quincy, not knowing what else to say.
+
+"That's the deuce of it," replied Lord Algernon; "I sha'n't know till I
+find her and ask her. I met her at Nice, in France; she was with her
+mother, a Mdme. Archimbault; the daughter's name was Celeste--Celeste
+Archimbault. They said they were not French, they were French Canadians;
+came from America, you know. I was traveling as plain Algernon Hastings,
+and I don't think she ever suspected I was the son of an earl. I
+proposed one evening. She said she must speak to her mother, and if I
+would come the next evening about seven o'clock, she would give me her
+answer, and I thought by the look in her eye that she herself was
+willing to say 'Yes' then. But when I called the next evening they had
+both gone, no one knew where."
+
+"You are sure she was not an adventuress?" inquired Quincy. "Excuse the
+question, my lord, but you really knew nothing about her?"
+
+"I knew that I loved her," said Lord Algernon, bluntly, "and I would
+give half of my fortune to find her. I know she was a true, pure,
+beautiful girl, and her mother was as honest an old lady as you could
+find in the world."
+
+"I wish I could help you," remarked Quincy.
+
+"Thank you," said Lord Algernon; "perhaps you may be able to some day.
+Don't forget her name, Celeste Archimbault; she is slight in figure,
+graceful in her carriage, ladylike in her manners. She has dark hair,
+large, dreamy black eyes, with a hidden sorrow in them; in fact, a very
+handsome brunette. Here is my card, Mr. Sawyer. I will write my London
+address on it, and if you ever hear of her, cable me at once and I'll
+take the next steamer for America."
+
+Quincy said that he would, and put the card in his cardcase.
+
+He excused himself to Lord Algernon and his sister that evening; a prior
+engagement made it necessary for him to leave for Boston early next
+morning, and the farewells were then spoken. Lord Algernon's last words
+to Quincy were whispered in his ear, "Don't forget her name--Celeste
+Archimbault!"
+
+The next Sunday morning Quincy and Leopold, as they approached Mrs.
+Gibson's house on the Cliff, found Rosa Very standing at the little
+gate. She had on the white dress that she had worn the Sunday before,
+but which Leopold had not seen. Upon her head was a wide-brimmed straw
+hat, decked with ribbons and flowers, which intensified the darkness of
+her hair and eyes."
+
+"Don't forget her name--Celeste Archimbault," came into Quincy's mind,
+but he said, "Nonsense," to himself, and dismissed the thought.
+
+"All ready for a walk on the Cliff?" asked Leopold, as he raised his hat
+and extended his hand to Rosa. She shook hands with him and then with
+Quincy. She opened the little gate, placed her hand on Leopold's arm and
+they walked on up the Cliff Road.
+
+As Quincy entered the little parlor, Alice sprang toward him with a cry
+of joy. He caught her in his arms, and this time one kiss did not
+suffice, for a dozen were pressed on hair and brow and cheek and lips.
+
+"It is so long since you went away," said Alice.
+
+"Only one short week," replied Quincy.
+
+"Short! Those six days have seemed longer than all the time we were
+together at Eastborough. I cannot let you go away from me again," she
+cried.
+
+"Stay with Me, My Darling, Stay," sang Quincy, in a low voice, and Alice
+tried to hide her blushing face upon his shoulder.
+
+Then they sat down and talked the matter over. "I must leave you," said
+Quincy, "and only see you occasionally, and then usually in the presence
+of others, unless--"
+
+"Unless what?" cried Alice, and a sort of frightened look came into her
+face.
+
+"Unless you marry me at once," said Quincy. "I don't mean this minute;
+say Wednesday of this coming week. I have a license with me I got in
+Boston yesterday morning. We'll be married quietly in this little room,
+in which you first told me that you loved me. We could be married in a
+big church in Boston, with bridesmaids, and groomsmen, and music on a
+big organ. We could make as big a day of it as they did down to
+Eastborough."
+
+"Oh, no!" said Alice; "I couldn't go through that. I cannot see well
+enough, and I might make some terrible blunder. I might trip and fall,
+and then I should be so nervous and ashamed."
+
+"I will not ask you to go through such an ordeal, my dearest. I know
+that we could have all these grand things, and for that reason, if for
+no better one, I'm perfectly willing to go without them. No, Alice, we
+will be married here in this room. We will deck it with flowers,"
+continued Quincy. "Leopold will go to Boston to-morrow and get them.
+Rosamond's Bower was not sweeter nor more lovely than we will make this
+little room. I will get an old clergyman; I don't like young ones;
+Leopold shall be my best man and Rosa shall be your bridesmaid. Mrs.
+Gibson and her brother, who I see is still here, shall be our witnesses,
+and we will have Tommy and Dolly for ushers."
+
+Both laughed aloud in their childish glee at the picture that Quincy
+had painted. "I could ask for nothing better," said Alice; "the ceremony
+will be modest, artistic, and idyllic."
+
+"And economical, too," Quincy added with a laugh.
+
+And so it came to pass! They were married, and the transformation in the
+little room, that Quincy and Alice had seen in their mind's eye, was
+realized to the letter. Flowers, best man, bridesmaid, witnesses,
+ushers, and the aged clergyman, with whitened locks, who called them his
+children, and blessed them and wished them long life and happiness,
+hoped that they would meet and know each other some day in the
+infinite--all were there.
+
+This was on Wednesday. On Thursday came a letter from Aunt Ella. It
+contained the most kindly congratulations, and a neat little wedding
+present of a check for fifty thousand dollars. She wrote further that
+she was lonesome and wanted somebody to read to her, and talk to her,
+and sing to her. If the book was done, would not Miss Very come to spend
+the remainder of the season with her, and if Mr. Ernst was there could
+he not spare time to escort Miss Very.
+
+That same evening Leopold received a letter from Mr. Morton. It simply
+read, "Blennerhassett accepted; will be put in type at once and issued
+by the first of November, perhaps sooner."
+
+The next morning Leopold and Rosa started for Old Orchard, and the
+lovers were left alone to pass their honeymoon, with the blue sea about
+them, the blue sky above them, and a love within their hearts which grew
+stronger day by day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+LINDA'S BIRTHRIGHT.
+
+
+For Quincy and Alice, day after day, and week after week, found them in
+a state of complete happiness. The little island floating in the azure
+sea was their world, and for the time, no thought of any other intruded
+upon their delightful Eden. It seemed to Quincy all a blissful dream of
+love, and everything he looked upon was wreathed in flowers and golden
+sunshine.
+
+But lotus land is not so far distant from the abodes of mortal man but
+that his emissaries may reach it. The first jarring note in the sweet
+harmony of their married life came in the form of a letter from Dr.
+Culver, who wrote to remind Quincy that it would soon be time to start
+in ploughing the political field. Quincy's reply was brief and to the
+point.
+
+"MY DEAR CULVER:--I will see you in Boston on the tenth
+of September.                                 Q.A.S."
+
+When Aunt Ella learned that her nephew was going to town, she made
+hurried preparations for her departure from Old Orchard, and wrote to
+him insisting that he and Alice should come and stay with her. This
+invitation they gladly accepted, Quincy arranging in his mind to explain
+matters to his family by saying that, as he had now entered politics and
+would necessarily have a great many callers to entertain, he thought it
+best to make his headquarters with Aunt Ella until the campaign was
+over.
+
+Accordingly, the ninth of September saw them located at Mt Vernon
+Street. On the very day of their arrival, proof of the remaining
+stories and a large instalment of Blennerhassett reached them, with a
+note from Ernst:
+
+"Please rush. Press is waiting."
+
+Miss Very's assistance was now absolutely necessary, but when Quincy
+asked Leopold for her address, he was surprised at the reply he
+received.
+
+"I haven't seen her," said Leopold, "since we came back from Old Orchard
+together. In fact, since that time, our relations, for some reason or
+other, have undergone a great change. However, I think I can help you
+out. I don't believe in keeping a good friend like you, Quincy, in
+suspense, so I will tell you the truth. I am married. My wife is fully
+as competent to assist Mrs. Sawyer as Miss Very would have been. She is
+in the library now at work. I will go and ask her."
+
+He entered the room, closing the door behind him. Quincy threw himself
+rather discontentedly into a chair. He fancied he heard laughing in the
+next room, but he knew Alice would be disappointed, and he himself felt
+in no mood for laughter.
+
+Leopold opened the library door. "Quincy, I've induced her to undertake
+the task," he said. "Do spare a moment from your work, Mrs. Ernst; I
+wish to introduce to you Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer, the husband of the
+author of that coming literary sensation, Blennerhassett. Mr. Sawyer,"
+he continued, "allow me to present you to my wife, Mrs. Rosa Ernst." And
+as he said this, Leopold and Rosa stood side by side in the doorway.
+
+"When did you do it?" finally ejaculated Quincy, rushing forward and
+grasping each by the hand. "Leopold, I owe you one." And then they all
+laughed together.
+
+By some means, Dr. Culver said by the liberal use of money, Barker
+Dalton secured the regular nomination from Quincy's party. The latter
+kept his word and entered the field as an independent candidate. A hot
+contest followed. The papers were full of the speeches of the opposing
+candidates, and incidents connected with their lives. But in none
+relating to Quincy was a word said about his marriage, and the fact was
+evidently unknown, except to a limited few. When the polls closed on
+election day and the vote was declared, it was found that Sawyer had a
+plurality of two hundred and twenty-eight and a clear majority of
+twenty-two over both Dalton and Burke, the opposing candidates. Then the
+papers were full of compliments for Mr. Sawyer, who had so successfully
+fought corruption and bribery in his own party, and won such a glorious
+victory.
+
+But Quincy never knew that the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer had used all
+his influence to secure his son's election, and for every dollar
+expended by Dalton, the Hon. Nathaniel had covered it with a two or five
+if necessary.
+
+The publication of Blennerhassett had been heralded by advance notices
+that appeared in the press during the month of October.
+
+These notices had been adroitly written. Political prejudices, one
+notice said, would no doubt be aroused by statements made in the book,
+and one newspaper went so far as to publish a double-leaded editorial
+protesting against the revival of party animosities buried more than two
+generations ago. The leaven worked, and when the book was placed in the
+stores on the eleventh of November, the demand for it was unparalleled.
+Orders came for it from all parts of the country, particularly from the
+State of New York, and the resources of the great publishing house of
+Hinckley, Morton, & Co. were taxed to the utmost to meet the demand.
+
+While Quincy was fighting Dalton in the political field, another
+campaign was being planned in the clever diplomatic brain of Aunt Ella.
+It related to the introduction of Alice, the "farmer's daughter," to the
+proud patrician family of Sawyer, as Quincy's wife--no easy matter to
+accomplish satisfactorily, as all agreed.
+
+The initial step was taken a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving, when a
+daintily-engraved card was issued from Mt. Vernon Street, which read:
+
+"Your company is respectfully requested on the evening of the tenth of
+December at a reception to be given to Bruce Douglas, the author of
+Blennerhassett."
+
+One evening, Quincy ran up the steps of the Mt. Vernon Street house. He
+opened the door and started to run up the stairs to his wife's room, as
+was his custom, when he came into collision with a young lady, who, upon
+closer inspection, he found to be his sister Maude.
+
+"Come in here," she said. She grasped him by the arm, and, dragging him
+into the parlor, she closed the door behind him.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Man!" she cried, "I've found you out, but horses sha'n't drag
+it out of me. No, Quincy, you're always right, and I won't peach. But
+'twas mean not to tell me."
+
+Quincy looked at her in voiceless astonishment. "What do you mean,
+Maude, and where did you gather up all that slang?"
+
+"I might ask you," said Maude, "where you found your wife. I've been
+talking to her upstairs. She must have thought that papa and mamma knew
+all about it, for she told me who she was, just as easy. Who is she,
+Quincy?"
+
+He drew his sister down beside him on a sofa. "She was Miss Mary Alice
+Pettengill. She is now known to a limited few, of which you, sister
+Maude, are one, as Mrs. Mary Alice Sawyer; but she is known to a wide
+circle of readers as Bruce Douglas, the author of many popular stories,
+as also of that celebrated book entitled Blennerhassett."
+
+"Is that so?" cried Maude; "why, papa is wild over that book. He's been
+reading it aloud to us evenings, and he said last night that that young
+man--you hear, Quincy?--that young man, had brought the truth to the
+surface at last."
+
+"Now, Maude," said Quincy, "you go right home and keep your mouth shut a
+little while longer, and when you are sixteen"--"the ninth of next
+January," broke in Maude--"I'll give you a handsome gold watch, with my
+picture in it."
+
+"I don't have to be paid to keep your secrets, Quincy," replied Maude
+archly, as Quincy kissed her.
+
+"I know it, dear," said Quincy; "I'll give you the watch, not as pay,
+but to show my gratitude."
+
+Quincy took an early opportunity to explain to his wife his remissness
+in not informing his parents of his marriage, and disclosed to her Aunt
+Ella's plan.
+
+On the tenth, Mrs. Chessman's spacious parlor was thronged from nine
+till eleven o'clock with bright and shining lights, representing the
+musical, artistic, literary, and social culture of Boston. Among the
+guests were the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer, his wife, and his
+daughters, Florence and Maude. The surprise of the visitors at the
+discovery that Bruce Douglas was a young woman was followed by one of
+great pleasure at finding her beautiful and affable.
+
+The reception and entertainment were acknowledged on all sides to have
+been most successful, and a thoroughly pleased and satisfied company had
+spoken their farewells to author and hostess by quarter-past eleven. So,
+when Quincy came up Walnut Street and glanced across at his aunt's
+house, a little before twelve, he found the windows dark and the
+occupants, presumably, in their beds.
+
+As part of her plan, Quincy had been advised by Aunt Ella to stay away
+from the reception, to spend the night at his father's house, and to be
+sure and take breakfast with them, so as to hear what was said about the
+previous evening.
+
+As soon as the morning meal was over, Quincy ran quickly upstairs,
+seized his hand-bag, which he always kept packed, ready for an
+emergency, and in a very short space of time, reached Mt. Vernon Street.
+He found his wife and aunt in the den. The latter was reading a
+manuscript to Alice.
+
+As soon as the greetings were over, and a little time given to
+discussing the reception, Quincy asked: "Who is this Mr. Fernborough
+that Maude told me about this morning?"
+
+"He is an English gentleman," explained Alice, "who has come to this
+country to see if he can find any trace of an only daughter, who ran
+away from home with an American more than thirty years ago, and who, he
+thinks, came to this country with her husband. His wife is dead, he is
+alone in the world, and he is ready to forgive her and care for her, if
+she needs it."
+
+"He hasn't hurried himself about it, has he?" said Quincy; "but why did
+he come to you?"
+
+"That's the strange part of it," Alice replied, "He said he
+thoughtlessly picked up a magazine at a hotel where he was staying, and
+his eye fell upon my story, How He Lost Both Name and Fortune. He read
+it, and sought me out, to ask if it were fiction, or whether it was
+founded on some true incident. He was quite disappointed when I told him
+it was entirely a work of the imagination."
+
+"Did he say what hotel?" asked Quincy.
+
+"No," replied Alice; "but why are you so interested in a total
+stranger?"
+
+Then Quincy told the story of the broken envelope--the little piece of
+cloth--and the name, Linda Fernborough.
+
+"I must find him at once," said he, "for I have an impression that his
+daughter must have been Lindy Putnam's real mother. You gave me my
+reward, Alice, before my quest was successful, but I gave my word to
+find her for you, and I shall not consider myself fully worthy of you
+till that word is kept."
+
+"But what did your father and mother say?" broke in Aunt Ella.
+
+"My father took me to task," began Quincy, "for not being present at the
+reception, but I told him I had to see Culver on some political
+business. Then he remarked that I missed a very pleasant evening. He
+complimented Aunt Ella, here, for her skill as an entertainer, and
+expressed his surprise that Bruce Douglas, instead of being a young man,
+was a young and very beautiful woman. Yes, Aunt Ella, he actually called
+my wife here a very beautiful young woman."
+
+"That is a capital beginning!" cried Aunt Ella. "Go on, Quincy."
+
+"In order to continue the conversation, I ventured the remark that Bruce
+Douglas came from an ordinary country family and one not very well off;
+for which aspersion, I humbly ask your pardon, Mrs. Sawyer. Father
+replied that he thought that I must have been misinformed; that Bruce
+Douglas was worth fifty thousand dollars in her own right, and he added
+that she would become a very wealthy woman if she kept up her literary
+activity."
+
+"What did sister Sarah say?" asked Aunt Ella.
+
+"Well," said Quincy, "I resolved to do something desperate, so I asked:
+'Doesn't she look countrified?' again asking your pardon, Mrs. Sawyer."
+
+"No," said mother, "she has the repose of a Lady Clara Vere de Vere, and
+is as correct in her speech as was the Lady Elfrida Hastings."
+
+"It will come out all right," cried Aunt Ella; and Quincy, kissing his
+aunt and wife, and promising to write or telegraph every day, caught up
+his hand-bag and started forth in search of the Hon. Stuart Fernborough,
+M.P.
+
+When Quincy left his aunt's house he had not the slightest idea which
+way would be the best to turn his footsteps. He commenced his search,
+however, at the Revere House, then he tried the American House, but at
+neither place was Mr. Fernborough a guest.
+
+At the Quincy House the clerk was busy with a number of new arrivals. He
+had just opened a new hotel register, and the old one lay upon the
+counter. Quincy took it up, and turning over the leaves, glanced up and
+down its pages. Suddenly he started back; then, holding the book closer
+to his eyes he read it again. There it was, under the date of September
+10, "Mdme. Rose Archimbault and daughter." The residence given in the
+proper column was "New York." Quincy kept the book open at the place
+where he found this entry until the clerk was at leisure. He remembered
+Mdme. Archimbault and daughter in a general way. He was sure that they
+arrived from Europe the day that they came to the hotel, and he was
+equally sure that they went to New York when they left. What made him
+positive was that he remembered asking the young lady when she wrote New
+York in the register if she had not just returned from Europe. She said
+yes, but that her home residence was in New York.
+
+Quincy thanked the clerk, and started forth again in search of the
+elusive Mr. Fernborough. A visit to Young's, Parker's, and the Tremont
+furnished no clue, and Quincy was wondering whether his search, after
+all, was destined to be fruitless, when he thought of a small hotel in
+Central Court, which led from Washington Street, a little south of
+Summer Street.
+
+It was noted for its English roast beef, Yorkshire mutton chops, and
+musty ale, and might be just the sort of place that an English gentleman
+would put up at, provided he had been informed of its whereabouts.
+
+On his way Quincy dropped into the Marlborough, but Mr. Fernborough had
+not been there, and Quincy imagined that the little hotel in Central
+Court was his last hope.
+
+His persistence was rewarded. Mr. Fernborough was not only a guest, but
+he was in his room. Quincy sent up his card, and in a very short time
+was shown into the presence of a courtly gentleman, between sixty and
+seventy years of age. His face was smooth shaven, and had a firm but not
+hard expression. His eyes, however, showed that he was weighed down by
+some sorrow, which the unyielding expression of his face indicated that
+he would bear in silence rather than seek sympathy from others.
+
+Quincy's story was soon told. The old gentleman listened with breathless
+interest, and when at the close Quincy said, "What do you think?" Mr.
+Fernborough cried, "It must be she, my daughter's child. There are no
+other Fernboroughs in England, and Linda has been a family name for
+generations. Heaven bless you, young man, for your kindly interest, and
+take me to my grandchild at once. She is the only tie that binds me to
+earth. All the others are dead and gone."
+
+The old gentleman broke down completely, and for several minutes was
+unable to speak.
+
+Quincy waited until his emotion had somewhat subsided. Then he said, "I
+am at your service, sir; we will do our best to find her. I have a
+feeling that she is in New York, but not a single fact to prove it. We
+can take the one o'clock train, if you desire."
+
+The old gentleman began at once to prepare for the journey. Quincy told
+him he would meet him at the hotel office, and from there he sent a note
+to Aunt Ella informing her of his intended departure.
+
+Arriving in New York they were driven at once to the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
+Quincy prevailed upon Sir Stuart to retire at once, telling him that he
+would prepare an advertisement and have it in the next morning's issue
+of the "New York Herald."
+
+Quincy wrote out two advertisements and sent them by special messenger
+to the newspaper office. The first one read: "Linda: important paper
+not destroyed, as suspected. Communicate at once with Eastborough,
+'Herald' office." The second was worded as follows: "Celeste A----t: an
+American friend has a message for you from me. Send your address at once
+to Eastborough, 'Herald' office. ALGERNON H."
+
+Then began the days of weary waiting; the careful examination of the
+"Herald" each morning, to be sure that the advertisements were in, for
+both had been paid for a week in advance. The request for mail made
+every morning at the "Herald" office received a stereotyped "no" for
+answer; then he vowed that he would advertise no more, but would enlist
+other aids in the search.
+
+On the morning of the eighth day Quincy stood upon the steps of the
+Fifth Avenue Hotel. He was undecided which way to go. It is in such
+cases of absolute uncertainty that unseen powers should give their aid,
+if they ever do, for then it is most needed. He did not hear any angels'
+voices, but he crossed over Broadway and started up town on the
+right-hand side of that great thoroughfare. As he walked on he glanced
+at the shop windows, for they were resplendent with holiday gifts, for
+Christmas was only one short week away.
+
+Just beyond the corner of Broadway and Twenty-ninth Street his attention
+was attracted by a wax figure in a milliner's window. The face and
+golden hair reminded him of his wife, and he thought how pretty Alice
+would look in the hat that was upon the head of the figure. His first
+inclination was to go in and buy it, then he thought that it would make
+an unhandy package to carry with him, and besides his taste might not be
+appreciated.
+
+Thinking, however, that he might return and purchase it, he glanced up
+at the sign. One look and he gave a sudden start backward, coming
+violently in contact with a gentleman who was passing. Quincy's apology
+was accepted and the gentleman passed on, giving his right shoulder an
+occasional pressure to make sure that it was not dislocated. Then Quincy
+took another look at the sign to make sure that he had not been
+mistaken. On it he read, in large golden letters, "Mdme. Archimbault."
+
+It was but the work of an instant for Quincy to enter the store and
+approach the only attendant, who was behind the counter nearest the
+door.
+
+"Could I see Mdme. Archimbault?" he inquired in the politest possible
+manner.
+
+"Ze madame eez seeck zis morning, monsieur, mais ze Mademoiselle Celeste
+eez in ze boudoir."
+
+As she said this she pointed to a partition with windows of ground
+glass, which extended across the farther end of the store, evidently
+forming a private department for trying on hats and bonnets. Quincy said
+nothing, but taking out his cardcase passed one to the attendant.
+
+The girl walked towards the boudoir, opened the door and entered. Quincy
+followed her, and was but a few feet from the door when it was closed.
+He heard a woman's voice say, "What is it, Hortense?" And the girl's
+reply was distinctly audible. This is what she said, "A veezitor,
+mademoiselle."
+
+An instant's silence, followed by a smothered cry of astonishment,
+evidently from mademoiselle. Then ensued a short conversation, carried
+on in whispers. Then Hortense emerged from the boudoir, and facing
+Quincy said, "Ze mademoiselle weel not zee you. She has no desire to
+continue ze acquaintance."
+
+As she said this she stepped behind the counter, evidently thinking that
+Quincy would accept the rebuff and depart. Instead of doing this he took
+a step forward, which brought him between Hortense and the door of the
+boudoir. Turning to the girl he said in a low tone, "There must be some
+mistake. I have never met Mademoiselle Archimbault. I will go in and
+explain the purpose of my visit." And before Hortense could prevent him,
+Quincy had entered the boudoir and closed the door behind him.
+
+In the centre of the room stood a beautifully carved and inlaid table.
+Before it sat an elegantly-dressed woman, whose hair, artistically
+arranged, was of the darkest shade of brown--almost black. Her arms were
+crossed upon the table, her face was buried in them, and from her came a
+succession of convulsive sobs, that indicated she was in great physical
+or mental distress.
+
+Quincy felt that she knew he was there, but he did not speak.
+
+Finally she said, and there was a tone of deep suffering in her voice:
+"Oh! Algernon, why have you followed me? I can never, never marry you.
+If it had been possible I would have met you that evening, as I
+promised."
+
+The thought flashed across Quincy's mind, "This is the girl that ran
+away from Lord Hastings. But why did she call me Algernon?" Then he
+spoke for the first time. "Mademoiselle, there is some misunderstanding;
+my name is not Algernon. I am not Lord Hastings."
+
+As he spoke he looked at the woman seated at the table. She looked up;
+there was an instantaneous, mutual recognition. In her astonishment she
+cried out, "Mr. Sawyer!"
+
+As these words fell from her lips, Quincy said to himself, "Thank God!
+she's found at last." But the only words that he spoke aloud were,
+"Lindy Putnam!"
+
+"Why do I find you here," asked Quincy, "and under this name? Why have
+you not answered my advertisements in the 'Herald?'" And he sank into a
+chair on the other side of the little table.
+
+The revulsion of feeling was so great at his double discovery that he
+came nearer being unmanned than ever before in his life.
+
+"How did you come by this card!" asked Mademoiselle Archimbault in a
+broken voice. "When you have explained, I will answer your questions."
+
+Quincy took the card from her hand and glanced at it. "What a big
+blunder I made and yet what a fortunate one," cried he, for he now saw
+that he had sent in Lord Hastings's card bearing the London address.
+"Lord Hastings himself gave it to me," he continued. "He was a guest at
+my father's cottage at Nahant last summer. He came to America and spent
+three months vainly searching for you. He loves you devotedly, and made
+me promise that if I ever found you I would cable at once to the address
+on that card, and he said he would come to America on the next steamer.
+Of course when I made that promise I did not know that Lindy Putnam and
+Celeste Archimbault were one and the same person."
+
+"But knowing it as you now do, Mr. Sawyer, you will not send him any
+word. Give me your solemn promise you will not. I cannot marry him. You
+know I cannot. There is no Lindy Putnam, and Celeste Archimbault has no
+right to the name she bears."
+
+"Did you come to New York when you left Eastborough, as you promised you
+would?" inquired Quincy.
+
+"No, I did not, Mr. Sawyer," said she. "Forgive me, but I could not. I
+was distracted, almost heartbroken when I reached Boston the day she
+died. She had robbed me of all hope of ever finding my relatives, and
+but for my hatred of her I believe I would have had brain fever. One
+thing I could not do, I would not do. I would not remain in America. I
+was rich, I would travel and try to drown my sorrow and my hatred. I did
+not go to a hotel, for I did not wish any one to find me. What good
+could it do? I looked in the 'Transcript' and found a boarding place.
+There I met Mdme. Archimbault, a widow, a French-Canadian lady, who had
+come to Boston in search of a niece who had left her home in Canada some
+five years before. Mdme. Archimbault had spent all the money she had in
+her unavailing search for her relative, and she told me, with tears in
+her eyes and expressive French gestures, that she would have to sell her
+jewelry to pay her board, as she had no way of making a living in a
+foreign land. Then I told her part of my story. She was sure her niece
+was dead, and so I asked her to be my mother, to let me take her name
+and be known as her daughter. I told her I was rich and that I would
+care for her as long as our compact was kept and the real truth not
+known. My visit to Nice and my meeting with Algernon Hastings, he has no
+doubt told you. I did not know he was a lord, but I suspected it. So
+much the more reason why he should not marry a nameless waif, a poor
+girl with no father or mother and all hope lost of ever finding them. I
+came back to America with Mdme. Archimbault, covering my tracks by cross
+journeys and waits which he could not anticipate. We landed in Boston."
+
+"I found your names in the Quincy House register," remarked Quincy.
+
+"I don't think I could escape from you as easily as I did from him," she
+said, the first faint sign of a smile showing itself upon her face. "I
+went to my bankers in Boston and told them that I had been adopted by a
+wealthy French lady named Archimbault. I informed them that we were
+going to return to France at once. They made up my account, and I found
+I was worth nearly one hundred and forty thousand dollars. I took my
+fortune in New York drafts, explaining that madame wished to visit
+relatives in New York, and that we should sail for France from that
+port. I did this so my bankers could not disclose my whereabouts to any
+one. We came here, but I could not remain idle. I always had a natural
+taste for millinery work, so I proposed to madame that we should open a
+store under her name. We did this late in September, and have had great
+success since our opening day. Now you know all about me, Mr. Sawyer.
+Give me your promise that you will not tell Lord Hastings where I am."
+
+"Then," said Quincy, "you do not know why I am here."
+
+"To keep your word to Lord Hastings, I presume. What other reason could
+you have?"
+
+"Then you have not read the Personal Column in the 'New York Herald?'"
+Quincy inquired.
+
+"No," said she. "Why should I?"
+
+Quincy took a copy of the paper from his pocket, laid it upon the table
+and pointed with his finger to the word "Linda." She read the
+advertisement, then looked up to him with distended eyes, full of
+questioning.
+
+"What does the paper say? It could not have disclosed much or you would
+not have waited so long to tell me."
+
+Then Quincy related the story of the sealed package, how it had been
+given to Alice Pettengill long before Mrs. Putnam died; how Miss
+Pettengill had sworn to destroy it, but would not when she learned that
+it might possibly contain information relating to her parents. He told
+her that Miss Pettengill would not allow any one to read it but herself;
+and how he had promised to search for her until he found her. Then he
+related the incident at the lawyer's office and the piece of cloth
+bearing the name, "Linda Fernborough," "which," said Quincy, "I think
+must have been your mother's maiden name." He did not tell her of the
+old gentleman only five blocks away, ready and willing to claim her as
+his granddaughter without further proof than that little piece of doth.
+
+Quincy looked at his watch. "I have just time," said he, "to get the one
+o'clock train for Boston. I will obtain the papers to-morrow morning,
+and be in New York again to-morrow night. The next morning early I will
+be at your residence with the papers, and let us hope that they will
+contain such information as will disclose your parentage and give you a
+name that you can rightfully bear."
+
+She wrote her home address on a card and passed it to him.
+
+He gave her hand a quick, firm pressure and left the store, not even
+glancing at Hortense, who gazed at him with wonderment. He hailed a
+hack and was driven to the hotel. He found Sir Stuart and told him that
+he had found his supposed granddaughter, but that he must wait until he
+returned from Boston with the papers, that his wife's feelings must be
+respected, and that the document could only be opened and read by the
+person who had been known to her as Lindy Putnam.
+
+Quincy reached Mt. Vernon Street about eight o'clock that evening. His
+wife and aunt listened eagerly to the graphic recital of his search. He
+pictured the somewhat sensational episode in the boudoir in the most
+expressive language, and Alice remarked that Quincy was fast gathering
+the materials for a most exciting romance; while Aunt Ella declared that
+the disclosure of the dual personality of Linda and Celeste would form a
+most striking theatrical tableau.
+
+Aunt Ella informed him that she had been requested by Mr. and Mrs.
+Nathaniel Adams Sawyer to extend an invitation to Miss Bruce Douglas to
+dine with them on any day that might be convenient for her. "I was
+included in the invitation, of course," Aunt Ella added. "What day had
+we better fix, Quincy?" she inquired.
+
+"Make it Christmas," replied Quincy. "Tell them Miss Bruce Douglas has
+invitations for every other day but that for a month to come. What a
+precious gift I shall present to my father," said he, caressing his
+wife, who laid her fair head upon his shoulder.
+
+"Do you think he will be pleased?" asked Alice.
+
+"I don't know which will please him most," replied Quincy, "the fact
+that such a talented addition has been made to the family, or the
+knowledge, which will surely surprise him, that his son was smart enough
+to win such a prize."
+
+The next morning Quincy arose early and was at Curtis Carter's office as
+soon as it was opened. Alice had signed an order for the delivery of the
+package to him and he presented it to Mr. Carter's clerk, to whom he
+was well known. The ponderous doors of the big safe were thrown open and
+the precious document was produced. When the clerk passed the package to
+him and took Alice's order therefor, Quincy noticed that a five-dollar
+bill was pinned to the envelope; a card was also attached to the bill,
+upon which was written: "This money belongs to Mr. Quincy Sawyer; he
+dropped it the last time he was in the office."
+
+Quincy would not trust the package to his hand-bag, but placed it in an
+inside pocket of his coat, which he tightly buttoned. After leaving the
+lawyer's office he dropped into Grodjinski's, and purchased a box of
+fine cigars. He had the clerk tack one of his cards on the top of the
+box. On this he wrote:
+
+"MY DEAR CURTIS:--Keep the ashes for me; they make
+good tooth powder.                     QUINCY."
+
+The box was then done up and addressed to Curtis Carter, Esq., the clerk
+promising to have it delivered at once.
+
+Quincy had found a letter at his aunt's from Mr. Strout, asking him to
+buy a line of fancy groceries and confectionery for Christmas trade, and
+it was noon before he had attended to the matter to his complete
+satisfaction. A hasty lunch and he was once more on his way to New York,
+and during the trip his hand sought the inside pocket of his coat a
+score of times, that he might feel assured that the precious document
+was still there.
+
+Arriving, Quincy proceeded at once to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Sir Stuart
+was eagerly awaiting his arrival, and his first question was, "Have you
+the papers?"
+
+Quincy took the package from his pocket and placed it on the table
+before him, remarking as he did so, "It must not be opened until
+to-morrow morning, and then by the young lady herself."
+
+The old man pushed the package away from him and turned a stern face
+toward Quincy. "I yield obedience," said he, "to your wife's command,
+but if one man or two stood now between me and my darling's child, I
+would have their lives, if they tried to keep her from my arms for one
+instant even."
+
+After a little reflection he apologized for his vehement language, and
+sought his room to think, and hope, and wait--but not to sleep.
+
+The next morning, a little before nine o'clock, a carriage containing
+two gentlemen stopped before a modest brick dwelling in West Forty-first
+Street. A servant admitted them and showed them into the little parlor.
+The room was empty. Quincy pointed to a sofa at the farther end of the
+room, and Sir Stuart took a seat thereon. Quincy stepped into the entry
+and greeted Celeste, who was just descending the stairs.
+
+"Sir Stuart Fernborough is in your parlor," said he; "he may be, and I
+hope to Heaven he is, your grandfather, but you must control your
+feelings until you know the truth. Come and sit by me, near the window,
+and read what is written in this package, so loud that he can hear every
+word." As he said this he placed the package, which might or might not
+prove her honorable heritage, in her hands.
+
+They entered the room and took seats near the window. Celeste opened the
+package with trembling fingers. As she did so that little telltale piece
+of cloth, bearing the name "Linda Fernborough," once more fell upon the
+floor. Quincy picked it up, and held it during the reading of the
+letter, for a letter it proved to be.
+
+It had no envelope, but was folded in the old-fashioned way, so as to
+leave a blank space on the back of the last sheet for the address. The
+address was, "Mr. Silas Putnam, Hanover, New Hampshire."
+
+Celeste began to read in a clear voice: "Dear brother Silas."
+
+"Is there no date?" asked Quincy.
+
+"Oh, yes," replied Celeste, "March 18, 183--."
+
+"Thirty years ago," said Quincy.
+
+Celeste read on:
+
+"DEAR BROTHER SILAS:--You will, no doubt, be surprised to find I
+am in this town when I usually go to Gloucester or Boston, but the truth
+is I had a strange adventure during my last fishing trip on the Polly
+Sanders, and I thought I would come into port as close to you as I
+could. About ten days ago I had a good catch on the Banks and sailed for
+home, bound for Boston. A heavy fog came up, and we lay to for more than
+twenty-four hours. During the night, heard cries, and my mate, Jim
+Brown, stuck to it that some ship must have run ashore; and he was
+right, for when the fog lifted we saw the masts of a three-master
+sticking out of water, close on shore, and about a mile from where we
+lay. We up sail and ran down as close as we dared to see if there was
+anybody living on the wreck. We couldn't see anybody, but I sent out Jim
+Brown with a boat to make a thorough search. In about an hour he came
+back, bringing a half-drowned woman and just the nicest, chubbiest,
+little black-eyed girl baby that you ever saw in your life. Jim said the
+woman was lashed to a spar, and when he first saw her, there was a man
+in the water swimming and trying to push the spar towards the land, but
+before he reached him the man sunk and he didn't get another sight of
+him."
+
+"Oh, my poor father!" cried Celeste. The letter dropped from her hands
+and the tears rushed into her eyes.
+
+"Shall I finish reading it?" asked Quincy, picking up the letter.
+
+Celeste nodded, and he read on:
+
+"I gave the woman some brandy and she came to long enough to tell me who
+she was. She said her name was Linda Chester or Chessman, I couldn't
+tell just which. Her husband's name was Charles, and he was an artist.
+He had a brother in Boston named Robert, and they were on their way to
+that city. The wrecked ship was the Canadian Belle, bound from Liverpool
+to Boston. I didn't tell her her husband was drowned. I gave her some
+more brandy and she came to again and said her husband left a lot of
+pictures in London with Roper & Son, on Ludgate Hill. I asked her where
+she came from and she said from Heathfield, in Sussex. She said no more
+and we couldn't bring her to again. She died in about an hour and we
+buried her at sea. I noticed that her nightdress had a name stamped on
+it different from what she gave me, and so I cut it out and send it in
+this letter. Now, I've heard you and Heppy say that if you could find a
+nice little girl baby that you would adopt her and bring her up. I sold
+out my cargo at Portland, and so I've put in here, and I'll stay till
+you and Heppy have time to drive down here and make up your minds
+whether you'll take this handsome little baby off my hands. Come right
+along, quick, for I must be off to the Banks again soon. From your
+brother,
+
+OBED PUTNAM,
+Captain of the Polly Sanders.
+"Portsmouth Harbor, N.H.
+
+"P.S. The baby was a year old the eighth of last January. Its name is
+Linda Fernborough Chessman."
+
+The tears had welled up again in the young girl's eyes, when Quincy read
+of the death of her mother and her burial at sea. His own hand trembled
+perceptibly when he realized that the young woman before him, though not
+his cousin, was yet connected by indisputable ties of relationship to
+his own aunt, Mrs. Ella Chessman. Following his usual habit of reticence
+he kept silence, thinking that it would be inappropriate to detract in
+any way from the happy reunion of grandfather and granddaughter.
+
+Sir Stuart had scarcely moved during the reading of the letter. He had
+sat with his right hand covering his eyes, but yet evidently listening
+attentively to each word as it fell from the reader's lips. As Quincy
+folded up the letter and passed it back to Linda, Sir Stuart arose and
+came forward to the front part of the room. Quincy took Linda's hand and
+led her towards Mr. Fernborough. Then he said, "Sir Stuart, I think this
+letter proves conclusively that this young lady's real name is Linda
+Fernborough Chessman. I knew personally Mr. Silas Putnam, mentioned in
+the letter, and scores of others can bear testimony that she has lived
+nearly all her life with this Silas Putnam, and has been known to all as
+his adopted daughter. There is no doubt but that the Linda Fernborough
+who was buried at sea was her mother. If you are satisfied that Mrs.
+Charles Chessman was your daughter, it follows that this young lady must
+be your granddaughter."
+
+"There is no doubt of it in my mind," said Sir Stuart, taking both of
+Linda's hands in his. "I live at Fernborough Hall, which is located in
+Heathfield, in the county of Sussex. But, my dear, I did not know until
+to-day that my poor daughter had a child, and it will take me just a
+little time to get accustomed to the fact. Old men's brains do not act
+as quickly as my young friend's here." As he said this he looked towards
+Quincy. "But I am sure that we both of us owe to him a debt of gratitude
+that it will be difficult for us ever to repay."
+
+The old gentleman drew Linda towards him and folded her tenderly in his
+arms. "Come, rest here, my dear one," said he; "your doubts and hopes,
+your troubles and trials, and your wanderings are over." He kissed her
+on the forehead, and Linda put her arms about his neck and laid her head
+upon his breast.
+
+"You are the only one united to me by near ties of blood in the world,"
+Sir Stuart continued, and he laid his hand on Linda's head and turned
+her face towards him. "You have your mother's eyes," he said. "We will
+go back to England, and Fernborough Hall will have a mistress once more.
+You are English born, and have a right to sit in that seat which might
+have been your mother's but for the pride and prejudice which thirty
+years ago ruled both your grandmother and myself."
+
+Leaving them to talk over future plans, Quincy went back to the hotel
+and wrote two letters. The first was addressed to Lord Algernon Hastings
+in London. The other was a brief note to Aunt Ella, informing her that a
+party of four would start for Boston on the morning train and that she
+might expect them about four o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+It lacked but five minutes of that hour when a carriage, containing the
+party from New York, stopped before the Mt. Vernon Street house. It
+suited Quincy's purpose that his companions should first meet his wife,
+although the fact that she was his wife was as yet unknown to them.
+
+The meeting between Alice and Linda was friendly, but not effusive. They
+had been ordinary acquaintances in the old days at Eastborough, but now
+a mutual satisfaction and pleasure drew them more closely together.
+
+"I have come," said Linda, "to thank you, Miss Pettengill, for your
+kindness and justice to me. Few women would have disregarded the solemn
+oath that Mrs. Putnam forced you to take, but by doing so you have given
+me a lawful name and a life of happiness for the future. May every
+blessing that Heaven can send to you be yours."
+
+"All the credit should not be given to me," replied Alice. "The morning
+after Mrs. Putnam's death I was undecided in my mind which course to
+follow, whether to destroy the paper or to keep it. It was a few words
+from my Uncle Isaac that enabled me to decide the matter. He told me
+that a promise made to the dead should not be carried out if it
+interfered with the just rights of the living. So I decided to keep the
+paper, but how? It was then that Mr. Sawyer came to the rescue and
+pointed out to me the line of action, which I am truly happy to learn
+has ended so pleasantly."
+
+"Grandpa and I have both thanked Mr. Sawyer so much," said Linda, "that
+he will not listen to us any more, but I will write to Uncle Ike, for I
+used to call him by that name, and show him that I am not ungrateful. I
+have lost all my politeness, I am so happy," continued Linda; "I believe
+you have met grandpa."
+
+Sir Stuart came forward, and, in courtly but concise language, expressed
+his sincere appreciation of the kind service that Miss Pettengill had
+rendered his granddaughter.
+
+Then Linda introduced Mdme. Archimbault as one who had been a true
+friend and almost a mother to her in the hours of her deepest sorrow and
+distress.
+
+"Now, my friends," said Quincy, "I have a little surprise for you
+myself. I believe it my duty to state the situation frankly to you. My
+father is a very wealthy man--a millionaire. He is proud of his wealth
+and still more proud of the honored names of Quincy and Adams, which he
+conferred upon me. Like all such fathers and mothers, my parents have
+undoubtedly had bright dreams as to the future of their only son. One of
+their dreams has, no doubt, been my marriage to some young lady of
+honored name and great wealth. In such a matter, however, my own mind
+must decide. I have acted without their knowledge, as I resolved to
+deprive them of the pleasure of my wife's acquaintance until Christmas
+day."
+
+Stepping up to Alice, Quincy took her hand and led her forward, facing
+their guests. "I take great pleasure, my friends, in introducing to you
+my wife, Mrs. Quincy Adams Sawyer."
+
+There came an exclamation of pleased surprise from Linda, followed by
+congratulations from all, and while these were being extended, Aunt
+Ella entered the room. She advanced to meet Sir Stuart, who had been
+present at Alice's reception. Quincy introduced Mdme. Archimbault, and
+then Aunt Ella turned towards Linda. "This is the young lady, I
+believe," said she, "who has just found a long-lost relative, or rather,
+has been found by him. You must be very happy, my dear, and it makes me
+very happy to know that my nephew and niece, who are so dear to me, have
+been instrumental in bringing this pleasure to you. But have you been
+able to learn your mother's name? Quincy did not mention that in his
+letter."
+
+"Yes," said Quincy, stepping forward, "the letter contained that
+information, but I thought I would rather tell you about it than write
+it. My dear aunt, allow me to introduce to you Miss Linda Fernborough
+Chessman."
+
+"What!" cried Aunt Ella, starting back in astonishment.
+
+"Listen to me, Aunt Ella;" and taking her hand in his he drew her
+towards him. "Your husband had a brother, Charles Chessman; he was an
+artist and lived in England; while there he married; he wrote your
+husband some thirty years ago that he was going to return to America,
+but Uncle Robert, you told me, never heard from him again after
+receiving the letter."
+
+"Yes, yes!" assented Aunt Ella; "I have the letter. But what is the
+mystery, Quincy? You know I can bear anything but suspense."
+
+"There is no mystery, auntie, now; it is all cleared up. Uncle Robert's
+brother Charles married Linda Fernborough, Sir Stuart's daughter. The
+vessel in which father, mother, and child sailed for America was
+wrecked. Father and mother were lost, but the child was rescued. This is
+the child. Aunt Ella, Linda Chessman is your niece, but unfortunately I
+am unable to call her cousin."
+
+Aunt Ella embraced Linda and talked to her as a mother might talk to her
+daughter. Her delight at finding this relative of the husband whom she
+had loved so well and mourned so sincerely, showed itself in face, and
+voice, and action. Her hospitality knew no bounds. Linda must stay with
+her a month at least, so must Sir Stuart and Mdme. Archimbault. It was
+the holiday season, and they must all feast and be merry over this
+happy, unexpected return.
+
+It was a joyous party that gathered in the dining-room at Aunt Ella's
+house that evening. She said that such an occasion could not be fitly
+celebrated with plain cold water, so a battle of choke old port was
+served to Sir Stuart, and toasts to Mrs. Sawyer and Miss Chessman were
+drunk from glasses filled with foaming champagne.
+
+Then all adjourned to Aunt Ella's room and Uncle Robert's prime cigars
+were offered to Sir Stuart and Quincy. But Aunt Ella had too much to say
+to think of her cigarette. For an hour conversation was general;
+everybody took part in it. The events of the past year, which were of so
+great interest to all present, were gone over, and when conversation
+lagged it was because everybody knew everything that everybody else
+knew.
+
+Quincy spent that night at his father's house. The next morning his
+mother told him that the author had selected Christmas day on which to
+be received by them at dinner, and that she was making unusual
+preparations for that event.
+
+"I wish I could invite a few friends to meet her that day," said Quincy.
+
+"You may invite as many as you choose, Quincy, if you will promise to be
+here yourself. You have been away from home so much the past year I
+hardly anticipate the pleasure of your company on that day."
+
+"Have no fear, mother," Quincy said. "I wish very much to meet the
+author that father and you are so greatly pleased with. Of course Aunt
+Ella is coming?"
+
+"Certainly," answered his mother. "I understand that the author has been
+stopping with her since the reception."
+
+"I shall invite five friends," said Quincy, "and you may depend upon
+me."
+
+To his mother's surprise he gave her a slight embrace, a light kiss upon
+her cheek, and was gone.
+
+The sun showed its cheerful face on Christmas morning. The snow that
+fell a fortnight previous had been washed away by continued heavy rains.
+A cold wind, biting, but healthful, quickened the pulse and brought
+roses to the cheeks of holiday pedestrians.
+
+The programme for the meals on Christmas day had been arranged by Mrs.
+Sawyer as follows: Breakfast at nine, dinner at one, and a light supper
+at six. It had always been the rule in the Sawyer family to exchange
+Christmas gifts at the breakfast hour. Quincy was present, and his
+father, mother, and sisters thanked him for the valuable presents that
+bore his card. Father, mother, and sisters, on their part, had not
+forgotten Quincy, and the reunited family had the most enjoyable time
+that they had experienced for a year.
+
+As Quincy rose to leave the table, he said to his mother, "I have
+another gift for father and you, but it has not yet arrived. I am going
+to see about it this morning."
+
+"You will be sure to come to dinner, Quincy," fell from his mother's
+lips.
+
+"I promise you, mother," he replied. "I would not miss it for anything."
+
+A little after noontime, the Chessman carriage arrived at the Beacon
+Street mansion of the Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer, and a moment later
+Mrs. Ella Chessman and the young author, Bruce Douglas, were ushered
+into the spacious and elegant parlor. They were received by Mr. and Mrs.
+Sawyer and their daughter Florence.
+
+Twenty minutes later a carriage arrived before the same mansion. Its
+occupants were Sir Stuart Fernborough, his granddaughter, and Mdme.
+Archimbault. A few minutes later Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Ernst appeared,
+having walked the short distance from their rooms on Chestnut Street.
+The new arrivals were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer by Mrs. Chessman,
+and a pleasant ante-prandial conversation was soon under way.
+
+From behind the curtains of a second-story window of the mansion, a
+young miss had watched the arrival and departure of the carriages. As
+the second one drove away she exclaimed, "Oh! what a lark! Those last
+folks came in Aunt Ella's carriage, too. I bet Quincy and auntie have
+put up some sort of a game on pa and ma. I won't go down stairs till
+Quincy comes, for I want to give my new sister a hug and a squeeze and a
+kiss, and I sha'n't dare to do it till Quincy has introduced her to pa
+and ma."
+
+At that moment the young man, faultlessly attired, came down stairs from
+the third story, and Maude sprang out from her doorway on the second
+floor and said in a whisper, "How long have you been home, Quincy?"
+
+"I came in about half-past eleven," he replied.
+
+"Oh, you rogue," cried Maude. "I have been watching out the window for
+an hour. I see it all now, you don't mean to give pa and ma a chance to
+say boo until after dinner. Let me go down first, Quincy."
+
+Maude went down stairs and was duly presented to the assembled guests as
+the youngest scion of the house of Sawyer.
+
+At exactly five minutes of one Quincy entered the parlor through the
+rear door. Aunt Ella and Alice were seated side by side between the two
+front windows. As Quincy advanced he exchanged the compliments of the
+season with the guests. Finally the Hon. Nathaniel and his son Quincy
+stood facing Aunt Ella and Alice.
+
+"Quincy," said his father, in slow, measured tones, "it gives me great
+pleasure to present you to the, celebrated young author, Bruce Douglas."
+
+Quincy bent low, and Alice inclined her head in acknowledgment. He
+reached forward, clasped her hand in his and took his place by her
+side. "Father, mother, and sisters," he cried, and there was a proud
+tone in his clear, ringing voice, "there is still another presentation
+to be made--that Christmas gift of which I spoke this morning at
+breakfast. You see I hold this lady by the hand, which proves that we
+are friends and not strangers. To her friends in the town of
+Eastborough, where she was born, the daughter of an honest farmer, who
+made a frugal living and no more, she was known by the name of Mary
+Alice Pettengill. To the story and book-reading public of the United
+States, she is known as Bruce Douglas, but to me she is known by the
+sacred name of wife. I present to you as a Christmas gift, a daughter
+and a sister."
+
+There was a moment of suspense, and all eyes were fixed upon the parents
+so dramatically apprised of their son's marriage. The Hon. Nathaniel
+cleared his throat, and advancing slowly, took Alice's hand in his and
+said, "It gives me great pleasure to welcome as a daughter one so highly
+favored by nature with intellectual powers and such marked endowments
+for a famous literary career. I am confident that the reputation of our
+family will gain rather than lose by such an alliance."
+
+"He thinks her books are going to sell," remarked Leopold to his wife.
+
+Mrs. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer took Alice's hand in hers and kissed her
+upon the cheek. "You will always be welcome, my daughter, at our home. I
+know we shall learn to love you in time."
+
+It was Florence's turn now. Like her mother, she took her new sister's
+hand and gave her a society kiss on the cheek. Then she spoke: "As
+mother said, I know I shall learn to love you, sister, in time."
+
+A slight form dashed through the front parlor door, and throwing her
+arms about Alice's neck, gave her a hearty kiss upon the lips. "My sweet
+sister, Alice, I love you now, and I always shall love you, and I think
+my brother Quincy is just the luckiest man in the world to get such a
+nice wife."
+
+Then abashed at her own vehemance, she got behind Aunt Ella, who said to
+herself, "Maude has got some heart."
+
+Dinner was announced. The Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer offered his arm to
+Mrs. Quincy Adams Sawyer, and they led the holiday procession. Sir
+Stuart Fernborough, M.P., escorted Mrs. Sarah Quincy Sawyer; next came
+Mr. Leopold Ernst and Miss Linda Fernborough Chessman, followed by Mr.
+Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mrs. Leopold Ernst; behind them walked, arm in
+arm, Mrs. Ella Quincy Chessman and Mdme. Rose Archimbault; while
+bringing up the rear came the Misses Florence Estelle and Maude Gertrude
+Sawyer. Maude had politely offered her arm to Florence, but the latter
+had firmly declined to accept it. In this order they entered the
+gorgeous dining-room and took their places at a table bearing evidences
+of the greatest wealth, if not the greatest refinement, to partake of
+their Christmas dinner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+FERNBOROUGH.
+
+
+Five years passed away, years of not unmixed happiness for any of those
+with whom this story has made us acquainted. Quincy and Alice had
+undergone a severe trial in the loss of two of the three little ones
+that had been born to them; the remaining child was a fair little boy,
+another Quincy, and upon him the bereaved parents lavished all the
+wealth of their tenderness and affection.
+
+In his political life, however, Quincy had found only smooth and
+pleasant sailing, and thanks to his bright and energetic nature, and not
+a little, perhaps, to his father's name and influence, he had risen
+rapidly from place to place and honor to honor. One of his earliest
+political moves had been the introduction of a bill into the House for
+the separation of Mason's Corner and Eastborough into individual
+communities.
+
+Soon after the incorporation of the former town under its new name of
+Fernborough, Abbot Smith, at Quincy's suggestion, had started the
+Fernborough Improvement Association, and now after these few years, the
+result of its labors was plainly and agreeably apparent. The ruins of
+Uncle Ike's chicken coop had been removed, and grass covered its former
+site. Shade trees had been planted along all the principal streets, for
+the new town had streets instead of roads. The three-mile road to
+Eastborough Centre had been christened Mason Street, and the square
+before Strout & Maxwell's store had been named Mason Square. Mrs.
+Hawkins's boarding house had become a hotel, and was known as the
+Hawkins House. The square before the church was called Howe's Square,
+in honor of the aged minister. The old Montrose road was now dignified
+by the appellation of Montrose Avenue. The upper road to Eastborough
+Centre that led by the old Putnam house was named Pettengill Street,
+although Ezekiel protested that it was a "mighty poor name for a street,
+even if it did answer all right for a man." The great square facing
+Montrose Avenue, upon which the Town Hall and the Chessman Free Public
+Library had been built, was called Putnam Square. On three sides of it,
+wide streets had been laid out, on which many pretty houses had been
+erected. These three streets had been named Quincy Street, Adams Street,
+and Sawyer Street.
+
+It was the morning of the fifteenth of June, a gala day in the history
+of the town. The fifth anniversary of the laying of the corner stone of
+the Town Hall and the library was to be commemorated by a grand banquet
+given in the Town Hall, and was to be graced by many distinguished
+guests, among them the Hon. Quincy Adams Sawyer and wife, and Mrs. Ella
+Chessman. After the banquet, which was to take place in the evening,
+there was to be an open-air concert given, followed by a grand display
+of fireworks. During the feast, the citizens were to be admitted to the
+galleries, so that they could see the guests and listen to the speeches.
+
+About ten o'clock the visiting party started off to view the sights of
+the town. Under the leadership of the town officers they turned their
+steps first towards the new library. On entering this handsome building,
+they observed hung over the balcony, facing them, a large oil painting
+of a beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed woman, dressed in satin and velvet
+and ermine, and having a coronet upon her head. Underneath was a tablet
+bearing an inscription.
+
+"An admirable portrait," said Quincy to his wife. "Can you read the
+tablet, dear? I fear I shall really have to see Dr. Tillotson about my
+eyes."
+
+Alice smiled at the allusion, and directing her gaze upon it, read
+without the slightest hesitation: "Linda Putnam, once a resident of this
+town, now Countess of Sussex, and donor of this library building, which
+is named in honor of her father, Charles Chessman, only brother of
+Robert Chessman."
+
+[Illustration: ALICE RECOVERS HER SIGHT (ACT IV.)]
+
+During the evening festivities the Town Hall was brilliantly lighted,
+and every seat in the galleries and coigns of vantage were occupied. The
+guests at the banquet numbered fully sixty. A Boston caterer, with a
+corps of trained waiters, had charge of the dinner. During its progress
+the Cottonton Brass Band performed at intervals. They were stationed in
+Putnam Square, and the music was not an oppressive and disturbing
+element, as it often is at close range on such occasions.
+
+When coffee was served, Toastmaster Obadiah Strout, Esq., arose, and the
+eyes of banqueters and sightseers were turned toward him.
+
+"This is a glorious day in the history of our town," the toastmaster
+began, "The pleasant duty has fallen to me of proposing the toasts to
+which we shall drink, and of introducing our honored guests one by one.
+I know that words of advice and encouragement will come from them. But
+before I perform the duties that have been allotted to me, it is my
+privilege to make a short address. Instead of doing so, I shall tell you
+a little story, and it will be a different kind of a story from what I
+have been in the habit of telling."
+
+This remark caused an audible titter to arise from some of the auditors
+in the galleries, and Abner Stiles, who was sitting behind Mrs. Hawkins,
+leaned over and said to her, "I guess he's goin' to tell a true story."
+
+The toastmaster continued: "More than six years ago a young man from the
+city arrived in this town. It was given out that he came down here for
+his health, but he wasn't so sick but that he could begin to take an
+active part in town affairs as soon as he got here. They say confession
+is good for the soul, and I'm goin' to confess that I didn't take to
+this young man. I thought he was a city swell, who had come down here to
+show off, and in company with several friends, who looked at his visit
+down here about the same as I did, we did all we could for a couple of
+months to try and drive him out of town. Now I am comin' to the point
+that I want to make. If we had let him alone the chances are that he
+wouldn't have stayed here more than a month any way. Now, s'posen he had
+gone home at the end of the month; in that case he never would have met
+the lady who sits by his side to-night, and who by her marriage has
+added new lustre to her native town. If he had not remained, she never
+would have written those stories which are known the world over, and I
+tell you, fellow-citizens, that in writing Blennerhassett, An American
+Countess, The Majesty of the Law, and The Street Boy, she has done more
+to make this town famous than all the men who were ever born in it."
+
+The speaker paused and drank a glass of water, while cheers and applause
+came from all parts of the gallery. Abner Stiles apparently forgot his
+surroundings, and, thinking probably that it was a political rally,
+called out, "Three cheers for Alice Pettengill"! which were given with a
+will, much to his delight, and the surprise of the banqueters.
+
+The toastmaster resumed: "If he had gone away disgusted with the town
+and its people, he never would have found out who Linda Putnam really
+was, and she, consequently, would never have been what she is to-day, a
+peeress of England and the great benefactress of this town, a lady who
+will always have our deepest affection and most sincere gratitude."
+
+Again the orator paused, and the audience arose to its feet. Applause,
+cheers, and the waving of handkerchiefs attested that the speaker's
+words had voiced the popular feeling. Once more Abner Stiles's voice
+rose above the din, and three cheers for "Lindy Putnam, Countess of
+Sussex," were given with such a will that the band outside caught the
+enthusiasm and played "God Save the Queen," which most of the audience
+supposed was "America."
+
+"In conclusion," said the orator, "I have one more point to make, and
+that is a purely personal one. Some writer has said the end justifies
+the means, and another writer puts it this way, 'Do evil that good may
+come.' In these two sayin's lies all the justification for many sayin's
+and doin's that can be found; and if I were a conceited man or one
+inclined to praise my own actions, I should say that the good fortune of
+many of our distinguished guests this evening, and the handsome
+financial backin' that this town has received, are due principally to my
+personal exertions."
+
+Here the speaker paused again and wiped his forehead, which was bedewed
+with perspiration.
+
+"Good Lord!" said Mrs. Hawkins to Olive Green, who sat next to her, "to
+hear that man talk anybuddy would think that nobuddy else in the town
+ever did anything."
+
+"To conclude," said the speaker, "I don't wish, feller citizens, to have
+you understand that I am defendin' my actions. They were mean in spirit
+and mean in the way in which they were done, but the one against whom
+they were directed returned good for evil, and heaped coals of fire on
+my head. At a time when events made me think he was my greatest enemy,
+he became my greatest friend. It is to his assistance, advice, and
+influence that I owe the present honorable position that I hold in this
+town, and here to-night, in his presence, and in the presence of you
+all, I have made this confession to show that I am truly repentant for
+the past. At the same time, I cannot help rejoicing in the good fortune
+that those misdeeds were the means of securin' for us all."
+
+As the speaker sat down, overcome with emotion, he was greeted with
+applause, which was redoubled when Mr. Sawyer arose in his seat. But
+when Quincy leaned forward and extended his hand to Strout, which the
+latter took, the excitement rose to fever heat, and cheers for Quincy
+Adams Sawyer and Obadiah Strout resounded throughout the hall and fell
+upon the evening air. This time the band played "The Star Spangled
+Banner."
+
+Again the toastmaster arose and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the first
+toast that I am going to propose to-night is a double one, because, for
+obvious reasons, it must include not only the State, but its chief
+representative, who is with us here to-night. Ladies and gentlemen, let
+us drink to the Old Bay State, and may each loyal heart say within
+itself, 'God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!'" The guests
+touched their lips to their glasses. "And now," continued the
+toastmaster, "to his Excellency QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER, Governor
+of the Commonwealth, whom I have the honor of introducing to you."
+
+The Governor arose amid wild applause and loud acclamations, while the
+band played "Hail to the Chief!"
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+$Hope Hathaway$
+
+_IS ANOTHER STRONG WESTERN STORY OF MONTANA RANCH
+LIFE BY THE AUTHOR OF_ "Marie of the Lower Ranch," _AND
+WITH EACH COPY THE PUBLISHERS ARE GIVING_
+
+FREE
+
+Eight Stirring Pictures
+
+_BY_
+
+CHARLES M. RUSSELL
+
+_The Cowboy Artist_
+
+_These pictures are the exact size and true reproductions
+of the originals and are all ready for framing_
+
+[Illustration: _The above pictures are reproductions
+of three of the originals_.]
+
+Price of Book and Pictures, $1.50
+
+C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., (_Inc_.)
+
+_BOSTON, MASS_.
+
+
+
+
+BE SURE AND ASK FOR
+
+$MY
+LADY
+LAUGHTER$
+
+By the Author _of_
+"MISS PETTICOATS"
+
+A NOVEL OF UNIQUE CHARM
+
+The captivating title chosen by DWIGHT
+TILTON for his third and best novel will
+assure this author's hundreds of thousands
+of readers that in $"My Lady Laughter"$
+they will find the same unusual and fascinating
+qualities that made the famous story
+of $"Miss Petticoats"$ so widely popular.
+
+$Beautifully Illustrated$
+
+$Handsomely Bound$
+
+$$1.50$
+
+
+
+
+"He has told a strong, honest story and
+told it well."--BROOKLYN EAGLE.
+
+"A book of uncommon cleverness."--BOSTON GLOBE.
+
+
+HESTER
+
+BLAIR
+
+THE ROMANCE OF A COUNTRY GIRL
+
+...BY...
+
+WILLIAM HENRY CARSON
+
+
+A BOOK YOU WILL
+HEAR ABOUT, READ,
+AND TALK ABOUT
+
+
+HESTER BLAIR is a sweet and lovable
+character though a puzzling one....
+
+
+Attractively Bound in Red Silk
+Cloth and Gold, Gilt Top
+ILLUSTRATED  $1.50
+
+
+C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+MISS
+PETTICOATS
+
+By
+
+DWIGHT TILTON.
+
+(_MON PETIT COEUR_)
+
+[Illustration.]
+
+N.Y. TIMES SATURDAY REVIEW.
+JUNE 14, 1902.
+
+"From the moment when Agatha
+Renier makes her appearance 'swaying
+like a scarlet vine' to the bridle of old
+Mrs. Copeland's maddened horses
+and stopping their headlong
+progress, the reader has a
+right to expect marvelous
+developments. And in
+this he is not
+disappointed
+
+
+NASHVILLE AMERICAN
+MAY 22.
+
+"Here is a tale of modern
+life to make you hold your
+breath over one episode and
+wonder what is coming next. It
+is an American novel full of interest
+and brightness, and so full of
+action that the incidents fairly step
+on each other's heels."
+
+
+SEVEN BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLORS.
+
+Handsomely Bound, Price $1.50. At all Booksellers.
+
+C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., BOSTON, MASS.
+
+
+
+
+MARJIE
+OF THE LOWER RANCH
+
+BY FRANCES PARKER
+
+This is a ranch story by a real
+ranch girl. She has woven into her
+breezy Western romance vivid pictures
+of ranch life from the viewpoint
+of a girl who has lived on the great
+Montana ranches since childhood.
+Miss Parker's writing has the Western
+dash that might be expected of a
+girl who would not ride a broncho that
+she herself had not broken to saddle.
+
+Illustrations by Victor A. Searles
+
+Attractively bound in cloth, 1.50
+
+C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+Telling an Hitherto Unrevcaled Romance In One of
+New York's Oldest and Most Exclusive Families
+
+$TITO$
+
+BY
+
+WILLIAM HENRY CARSON, author "Hester Blair"
+
+UNANIMOUS PRAISE FROM THE PRESS
+
+"A story of strong power, depicting the human emotions."--CHICAGO
+JOURNAL, March 23.
+
+"There is no more attractive figure in current fiction than that which
+Mr. Carson has conceived."--NEW YORK WORLD, March 14.
+
+"Told with delicacy of feeling and thorough knowledge of the Italian
+temperament."--PUBLIC OPINION, April 2.
+
+"The reading public will take it up with increasing and consuming
+interest--will love Tito."--CHICAGO RECORD-HERALD, March 28.
+
+"It contains abundant action, numerous startling scenes and no end
+of mysteries. There is a fascination about Tito that compels sympathy
+and interest."--BOSTON TRANSCRIPT, April 8.
+
+"The author has placed the simple Florence youth far above the
+characters of recent fiction--it is a masterpiece of dramatic
+fiction."--NEW YORK AMERICAN AND JOURNAL, March 28.
+
+"Mr. Carson has handled his material in a masterly manner and given
+fiction a strong book."--INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL, April 5.
+
+Illustrations by C.H. STEPHENS _and_ A.B. SHUTE
+
+Bound in Red Art Crash
+
+Price, 1.50
+
+C.M. Clark Publishing Co., Boston
+
+
+
+
+The Critics are Enthusiastic
+
+OVER
+
+$ON
+SATAN'S
+MOUNT$
+
+By DWIGHT TILTON, author of
+"MISS PETTICOATS"
+
+$Read What They Say:$
+
+$HOW TO KNOW THE BOOKS,
+April, 1903$. "This story has
+a prophetic side, reminiscent
+of 'Looking Backward,' but its
+clever satirizations and veiled
+illusions to living personages give it more of actuality than
+that widely read social study."
+
+$NEW YORK AMERICAN, Saturday, April 11, 1903$. "So
+strongly written and presents a national peril so boldly
+treated as to insure immediate attention and provoke comment
+which will make this book of more than passing value."
+
+$THE NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY STATES, Sunday, April 5,
+1903$. "It probes the secrets of capitalism and labor, of
+politics and journalism with a surety and a conviction almost
+discomposing."
+
+$THE OUTLOOK, March 21, 1903$. "Wall Street and Washington
+are the theatres of action, and in the characters many
+will think they recognize composite pictures of prominent
+men. The story is fanciful, but not without power and not
+without a lesson."
+
+Illustrated. Bound in Red Art, Crash Price, $1.50
+
+C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+For $1.50
+
+IN STAMPS, MONEY ORDER OR
+EXPRESS ORDER, WE WILL
+SEND YOU, POSTAGE PREPAID,
+A SET OF
+
+$9 BEAUTIFUL POSTERS$
+AND
+YOUR CHOICE
+OF THE FOLLOWING
+POPULAR
+CLOTH BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED $1.50
+NOVELS.
+
+MARJIE of the LOWER RANCH,
+By Frances Parker.
+
+LOVE STORIES from REAL LIFE,
+By Mildred Champagne.
+
+MISS PETTICOATS,
+By Dwight Tilton.
+
+QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER,
+By Charles Felton Pidgin.
+
+MY LADY LAUGHTER,
+By Dwight Tilton.
+
+ON SATAN'S MOUNT,
+By Dwight Tilton.
+
+TITO,
+By William Henry Carson.
+
+HESTER BLAIR,
+By William Henry Carson
+
+HOPE HATHAWAY,
+By Frances Parker.
+
+These posters
+are reproductions
+of original
+oil sketches done
+exclusively for us by
+well-known artists.
+
+They vary in size
+from 12x18 inches
+to 18x26 inches, and
+are most attractively
+printed in four
+colors.
+
+Address C.M. CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY, BOSTON.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner
+Folks, by Charles Felton Pidgin
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER AND ***
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