Audrey's Recompense.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 3

Audrey's Recompense.

BY MRS GEORGIE SHELDON,

Author of "Brownie's Triumph," "Tho Forsaken Bride," " Stella Rosevelt," " The Lily of Mordaunt," eto.

CHAPTER XXXIII (Continued),

"What a narrow escape you have had, my darling," Rich said, with a shudder, when some days afterward he and Annie were talking it over alone. "I Bhall not feel safe until that man is found and put where he can do you no further harm."

" I believe I shall never dare go out alone again," Annie returned, nestling closer to her lover, while a thrill of horror ran through her at the remembrance of her frightful experience. " I am glad to hear you aay that, dear," Rich replied, " for 1 certainly could not know a moment's comfort if I thought you would ever be liable to uncounter such a danger again," •' Do not let us talk about it any more, please, Rich," pleaded the young girl; and he saw Wiat she was fearfully pale; the memory of it was still too much for her weakened nervos " Besides," ahe added, " I want to consult you a little more about thia now plan of Aunt Martha's. You have net yet told me what you think of it."

"Of their adoptingyou and relieving you of all further toil and tho vexations of lifo?" questioned Rich, smiling. " I think it will be very nico for my dear one—at least, until I can take her into my own neat " "Is it not good of themtoibe willing to spend the winter in the city?" " 1 am very glad they have decided to do so, for I do not thinkjl could have consented fo allow you to go 'way down in Maine. I could not spare my darling," he answered, fondly. ' " I imagine they thought of that," Annie responded, a little bit of colour creeping into her cheeks at his fond words, " and so have arranged everything just as if they knew all about it themselves."

" All about what, my snow-drop ?" asked Rich, mischievously. " Why, how hard it would be for us to be separated, of course; so Uncle George if. going to take the Jones family to Lynnell, settle them in their new home, and attend to some necessary business in connection with giving up the care of the farm to Mr Jones. I suppose he will be gone about a month—meanwhile Aunt Martha and I are to go to our nice quiet boarding-place, where I know we shall be very happy; only I am afraid she has been rather extravagant in her choice of rooms, for they are perfectly delightful. Rich, it is going to be charming for us to be bo near Miss Waldemar." "To be so near Miss Waldemar\" repeated Rich, with uplifted brows and significant emphasis. "Oh, you needn't be jealous, for, of course, you know it was almost wholly on your account that we arranged to remain in New York this w'nter," retorted Annie. "If it had not been for your lordship / should have insisted upon going to Maine, foi I know it must be something of a sacrifice for those dear old people to give up their comfortable home just for me, and I know that is the reason they decided as they did." " Just for me!" quoted Rich again. "Just for me is a very sweet and satisfactory reason, I am sure," he added, smiling. " But I have my otvn theory, notwithstanding, about this business. I have a notion that Aunt Martha enjoys city life, for all she was 'born and brought up' in the grand old State of Maine, and I should not wonder if you yet made quite a gay old lady of her." Annie laughed heartily. " What a keen observer of human nature you are," she said, " and I shall not presume to dispute you; for, if you will believe it, Aunt Martha came running upstairs last night with two invitations for Mrs Wellington's great party that ia to come off in a couple of weeka, and kbo declared we must go, and both have brandnew dresses to wear."

It waa really true that Mies Starkey enjoyed the excitement of city lifo, strange as it may appear, after the quiet and monotonous existence that she had always led at home.

She liked company, and young people particularly, and interested herself in all the pleasures that fell to the lot of Grace and Annie ; while she could go to the theatre and see a good play with as much gusto aB tho most experienced play-goerin the city. " Are you not afraid of being excommunicated from your church, Aunt Martha, if you go to the theatre?" Annie playfully asked her ono day. "Humph lif I never do worse than listen to a play like ' Little Em'l.y,' I guess I shan't be shut out of heaven," was toe confident retort. " 1 know tho ministers all preach against it, and look horrified if they find out that any of their church members go; but, between you and me," dropping her voice confidentially," I've kept my eyes open pretty well for sixty odd years, and I reckon there ain't a great many ministers who have not been inside a theatre. They'd say, I suppose, that th sy wont to ' inform themselves about the dangers and follies,' but I guess, if the truth was known, they like it just as well as other folks." Tha Starkeys had taken a handsome suite of rooms in a street not far from where Miss Waldemar resided, where they were to have their meals served in a little private room, instead of going to the publio table, ao it would not seem like boarding, but as if they had a separate home of their own. ." I'm afraid it will cost a great deal," Annie had objected, when Miss Starkey stoutly affirmed she would not go to any public table, and proposed this "Of course it will, child; these New Yorkers know how to make you pay a smart price for everything you have, but I guess there's money enough, and if we are going to stay here this winter, we're going to have things in shape, and a good time, too, if we can," returned the spinster, resolutely, and Annie offered no further objections. They were to remain until April, then they were going to Lynnell to spend the summer, where Miss Waldemar, Rich, and

the Campbells would join them for a month. Then early in the fall there was to be a quiet wedding in the old homestead where Annie's mother had been married.

It was the young girl's wish to stand upon the very spot where her father and mother had plighted their vows, when she gave herself for life to Rich. After the wedding and a short tour, the young couple would return to New York to occupy a charming little residence which Uncle George and Rich were planning between them, which was to bo built just a little way out of the city, and where the Starkeys were to spend their winters, and then, if Rich's business would permit, the whole family would go back fer the hot summer to the old homestead at Lynnell.

Mr Starkey, with the Jonee family, left for Maine the middle of December, and they who had no love for city life bade farewell to New York, where they had suffered so much, without a regret.

Mr Jones was now far on the road to health ; the hope "of being able onoe moro to provide comfortably for his family had done much toward his restoration; for courage and hope are by far the most successful physicians the world has ever known.

Hia gratitude toward Mias Starkey and the other good people, who had done ao much toward effecting thia happy change for him, waa unbounded.

He considered Miss Campbell "an angel of goodness," while toward Roger Hamilton he manifested an aftection and reverence that waa almost pathetic.

Grace, Annie, and Miss Starkey all rode to the station, on the morning the party were to take their departure, " to see them off;" and there they met Mr Hamilton, who had come upon a similar errand, " What a grand man he is !" Annie remarked to Grace, who, after exchanging freetings with him, had presented him to er young friend; "the very glance of his eye, to Bay nothing of his genial smile, inspires one wiih confidence and esteem instantly."

Grace made no reply to these enthusiastic remarks; but her gaze followed his noble form, as he went to help Mr Jones attend to hia baggage, with au expression that betokened something more than mere friendly interest, while the bloom on her cheek increased to a deeper hue than usual, CHAPTER XXXIV. MB STARKEY TAKES AN INTEREST' IN ARCHITECTURE. The winter passed quickly and delightfully, at least to pretty Annie Noble. Life for her had again resumed its brightest aspect. Mr Campbell had hoped and tried to get something for her from the dishonest lawyer who had Eettled her father's estate. He felt sure that aa good a business man aB Adrien Noble had been would never have left his child so utterly destitute as Annie had been left. But the man had so thoroughly covered his tracks, and so cunningly accounted for Mr Noble's insolvency, that he could find nothing tangible to work upon, and had at length to give up the task aa hopeless. But, notwithstanding this disappointment, the winter slipped away with very much of enjoyment in it. The Starkeys, Waldemars, and Campbells were much together ; indeed, scarcely a day passed that they did not meet, or plan to visit some place of interest in company with each other.

Meantime, Mr Starkey had returned from Maino, where he left tho Jones family happy and contented in their new homes, Mr Jones having improved so rapidly after leaving the city that he was able to attend to many duties before Starkey left. Rich made a change in his business at the beginning of the new year, as Mr Remington had advised him to do, and formed a partnership with Mr Mason. Having already acquired something of a reputation, order soon began to pour in upon them, and there seemed to be a fair prospect that wealth and fame awaited the new firm of Mason and Waldemar. Mr Starkey all at once became deeply interested in architecture ; especially ao in a certain set of plan? which Rich waa engaged upon for a house that was to be built a few miles out of the city on a proporty lot which " Uncle George" had.himself bought and paid for. The discussions upon these plans were frequent and long. Rich was desiroua that the houae should be convenient, and everything about it built with a view to comfort and thoroughness,; but he aimed, at the same time to make the cost reasonable. Mr Starkey, however, frequently startled him, and deranged his plans by proposing strangely extravagant additions, at least for a man who had been brought up as simply as he had been. "Why don't you put in some of these new-fangled fixings over the fireplace?" he asked, one day, when they were discussing the finish of certain rooms. " These ornamentals do you mean ?" Rich " I guess that's what they c&ll 'em ; at any rate, they're all whittled out in fine shape." "They are very expensive—anything in carving always is," objected Rich. " I shouldn't wonder; but I like 'em firet-rate." "Have you any idea what they cost?' Rich askod.

" Well, yes, something; I've been 'round a little asking the prices of some things, and, I guess, if you're agreeable, we'll put one in the parlour and another in the library. Then I reckon you might as well have the rooms finished in hard woods to match 'em. I heard the child say she thought the natural wood was prettier than anything "Yes: I like that kind of finish best myself," the young architect admitted, but looking a trifle perplexed. " Then I've an idea," pursued Mr Starkey blandly, "that she'd like a_ little glass, house, built on the south side, to keep posieß in." "What? Do you mean a conservatory thrown out to the south ?" exclaimed Rich, aghast at these unexpected and expensive proposals. " Yes; I reckon that's the upper-tendom name for em,"

" I am afraid you do not realise what you are talking about, Mr Starkey," Rich said, gravely, for he could not see- his way clearly yet toward maintaining a style of furnishing and living to correspond with these expensive suggestions. " I guess I do, if you'll excuse my contradicting you," answered Mr Starkey, serenely. '' According to my way of thinking, there ain't anything too good for that girl of our'n, and so she's going to have the best there is. I know Bhe loves flowers better'n anything else that grows, and I want her to have a lot of 'em, and a nice place to keep 'em in ; and -well, to make a long story short, you just take thia and use it as. if you knew there was plenty more where it came from—for there is—and you build that house just as it ought to be built ~in ship-shape." He pulled a folded paper from hia breastpocket as he epoko, and laid it down before Rich.

The young man unfolded it, and found it to be a cheque for an. amount that astonished him.

He flushed and appeared considerably embarrassed. Mr Starkey, noticing it, resumed, in an explanatory way: " You see, if I'd been like most other men, I suppose I should havo got married long ago, and maybe had children of my own, but I didn't, and so there's only Marthy Ann and me in the family, and the Lord only knows who'd gobble up our money after we're gone, if we didn't do something with it beforehand. Well, we've settled it between us .that that child is going to have the most of it.; but I've a notion that I'd like to see a little of it spent by somebody who knows how to make things shine; so I want thia houae to be-a —well, a regular stunner -such a one aa you'd make it if you was worth, say a hundred and fifty thousand—perhapa more - and you thought there wasn't anything too good for your bride that is to be." Bich was astounded. - He had no thought of building in any such elaborate way as this ; a modest, convenient, comfortable little house was all he had aspired to, and all that he deemed his means would allow. Mr Starkey had given the land, and he had supposed that would be the extent of his contribution toward Annie's wedding outfit.

But this check, and the hint as to almost unlimited means, and the suggestions regarding finish and ornamentation, convinced him that Annie's guardians would not be satisfied with anything so simple as he had contemplated.

"Very well," he said, after considering the matter awhile, " I will do as you desire, Mr Starkey; but 1 shall insist, upon the completion of the house, that the property be made over unconditionally to Annie." Mr Starkey chuckled amusedly. .' Well, I sha'n't object to that," he said; " you can do as yon please, though I guess it won't make no great Bight of a difference

whichever name it stands in. All I'm particular about is that there sha'nt be any outs about it, for I'm bound to show Marthy Ann that I can do the handsome thing as well as she, and I don't want her to know, neither, till it's done, and that t'was My idea." _So the lovely house grew, and Rich put his whole heart into it, until it came to be the "dearest spot on earth" to him, for round it clustered the moat sacred hopes of his life.

Mr Hamilton had become a frequent visitor at the Campbell's during these months, and many a "Samaritan" errand was planned by him and Grace, and Miss Campbell seemed to be greatly changed in some respects. The look of sadness Mid pain had almost disappeared from her eyes, the old colour had returned to her face, and ehe seemed once more like the beautiful girl whom Rich had so admired that evening when he had first been invited to her home.

Spring succeeded winter, and when April came the Starkeys were preparing to flit to their country home.

Rich grew rather sober as the time of seperation drew nigh, and on the evening before Annie's departure he was almost tempted to say that he could not let her

go. She bantered him upon it with a forced gayety, which, however, did not deceive him in the least, for her eyes were dewy, and her lips quivered with almost every other sentence.

"If I do not run away from you I shall never be ready to occupy that lovely house with you next fall," she said, with a charming blush, "Just think," she added, severely, " what idle hands these have been till these winter months, and such piles of sewing to be done 1" Rich gathered those same " idle hands " into his, and kissed them tenderly. " I call them very busy hands when I think of all they have done in the past," he said, fondly ; " and I want to exact a promise that they shall not do more than is good for their owner while she is where I cannot look after her."

_ " Oh, Aunt Martha has taken care to provide for that already, and—isn't it just lovely of her, Rich?—has engaged Mary Forsyth to go to Maine with us to spend the summer and help do the sewing. It will not only give the poor girl employment, but help build her up. The country air and Uvsng are just what she needs." " Are you sure that ' Aunt Martha' deserves all the credit for the arrangement?" asked Rich, with a significant smile. " Oh, well, of course, when I knew that we must have some one to help, I suggested Mary," Annie admitted, flushing consciously. " I thought so," Rich remarked; quietly. " Aunt Martha is a dear good old soul and a true Bister of charity; but she isn't the only whole-hearted woman in the universe, by any means." CHAPTER XXXV. AN OIiD-FASHIONED PICNIC. So the middle of April found the Starkeys back in their old homes—a large, well-pre-served, old fashioned mansion, having great square rooms, with wide, old fireplaces all over the house, and a great hall running through the middle of it.

It was furnished with rich, substantial furniture, as ancient as itself—heir-looms of three generations; and every nook and corner of the place was homelike. The buildings outside were as spotless as a coat of white paint, administered every other year, could make them, and the wide sweeping lawn, dotted here and there with magnificent elms, whose graceful branches almost swept the green turf, was a perfect delight to the eye.

" What a lovely place 1 and this was my mother's home ?" Annie exclaimed, as she alighted before the open door, and glanced about her with unmistakable delight.

" Yes, always, after her father and mother died, until she was married," answered Miss Starkey, well pleased with her appreciation. " Annie Hunting played day after day under these old trees; she roamed over the bills yonder picking berries in the summer, and nuts in the fall; she loved those meadows down there, where you see that little running brook, and where she used to find and bring home violets, strawberries, and cowslips by the apronful; your mother was fond of flowers as you are, Annie," concluded the spinster, quietly wiping a tear from her cheek. " Yes, and I've got the last ones she ever brought home," softly murmured her brother as if talking to himself. , ',' George Washington Iwhat do you mean?" sharply questioned Miss Starkey; for something unusual in his manner startled her.

He looked surprised, and as if her words had suddenly brought him to his senses; rubbed his hard hand once or twice across his forehead, while a dusky red flushed his whole face.

Then he deliberately took an old wallet from one of his pockets and drew from it a folded paper. Carefully opening it, he showed to his astonished sister and Annie a few-faded flowers—violets, strawbells, and cowslips. But his face had not lost its ruddy hue ; his lips were drawn tight together; there was a look of wistful sadness in his eyes, while the hand that held the paper trembled visibly. Annie, half-blinded by tender tears, bent close to look at the flowers that had been gathered by her mother's fingers, and did not appear to heed the old man's unusual emotion ; but Miss Starkey stood as if transfixed, regarding him with wide eyes, a perplexed and astonished look on her face.

Presently the young girl turned away and wandered thoughtfully about the lawn. She waß deeply movud to find herself there in that very place where her mother had lived; to tread the same sod that her feet had pressed; to breathe the same air, and to be overshadowed by the same lofty trees.

Misß Starkey waited until she was beyond hearing, then she lifted one hand and laid it eently on her brother s shoulder. He turned and looked into her face, and he knew that she had read the secret that he had guarded so sacredly for long, long years. "I took 'em from the vase in the parlour after she went away with him, that day," he said, apologetically, hut in an unsteady voice, and his eyes went fondly back to those faded blossoms. " I saw her put 'em there with her own bands, and I've kept 'em ever since. When i die_, Marthy Ann, you put 'em here," and having reverently folded the paper again, he laid it over his heart,

"George Washington! that* why you set so much by her !" ejaculated hie sister, with a nod, "and a glapce toward Annie } but her hand still rested with a tender touch on his shoulder, and her chin quivered with repressed emotion. " It's one rea«on, I suspect; though I'm fond of her for her own sake, too," he said. He put the flowers carefully back into the old wallet and returned it to its former hiding-place; then he added, with a humility and a sort of shamefacedness that was most pathetic: "I never meant anyone should know— but somehow, I couldn't help it—l reckon I forgot myself, for her sweet voice, her blue eyeß, and pretty ways are so like her mother's that I half thought, for a minute, that she was back again. "I guess, Marthy Ann," he continued, with a longdrawn sigh, after a brief silence, "we won't ever talk about this any more, for though 'tis so long ago, it kind of hurts yet." ' He straightened himself, as if thus to throw off his momentary weakness, turned abruptly and went into the house, while his sister stood looking sadly after him. "Well, it's rather queer, I must say," she murmured at last. " I thought 'twas strange for a man of George Washington's makeup to get so soft over a girl; but things get so mixed up; and go by contraries, out perhaps it'll all get straightened out np yonder," she concluded, with a dreamy look off over the distant hills, where the earth and sky seemed to meet. May and. June slipped almost magically away; but busy hands were at work in the great farm-house, and much was accomplished daring that time. Mary Forsyth, with new health-and strength animating her, and with gratitude in her heart for the kindness that had brought her there to enjoy all that beauty and comfort, worked with 611 her might over the bridal outfit; and piles of houseltold linen and wearing apparel—garments of dainty shape and delicate texture—grew into form and were packed away in trunks ready for their final destination In that now nearly completed houße in the suburbs of New York. M With the first warm days of July Mm Waldemar came to Lynnell; Wch_eniphatK %at-g M-g art te Ot t™t- of ttat month,

" I'm glad we've got the heft of the sew ing done," Miss Starkey remarked, when she saw Miss Waldemar's pale face and noted her listless manner; " there's nothing but knicknacks and finery to attend to now, and that'll be nothing but play; so there'll bo plenty of time for roaming about in tha pine woods, and you and Annie both need it; she's been working too steady in spite of all I could do." !.-. '" '. > After that there were long, lovely day a, when Miss Starkey, assisted by Mary Forsyth and a couple of farmers' girls, was " up to her eyes " in the business of wed-ding-cake, and in pickling and preserving for the young housekeeper-elect, for she stoutly affirmed that " boughten sauces weren't fit to eat." Miss Waldemar and Annie wandered away by themselves, and almost lived out of doors. They would take a few handkerchiefs to hem, or some other light work^-just to " make believe they were industrious," Annie mischievously asserted—and go into the woods, or to the top of a hill not far from the house, through whose dark glossy leaves a delightful breeze always rustled, they could look off over the surrounding country for miles and miles, and breathe in health and strength. Mrs Campbell and Grace came the last week in July ; the first of August brought Rich, and then the party seemed complete. Mrs Campbell bad her own horses and carriage—or, rather, a handsome, comfortable turn-out hired from the nearest city— and they took long drives all about the country. Grace pronounced Maine "the loveliest State in the Union." She had been almost everywhere, but nowhere was tnore such beautiful scenery, such delightfal lakes and drives as in that region which they explored during those never-to-be-forgotten weeks. Towards the last of August there wa3 to be an old-fashioned country picnic—those rustic people always had one every year, when the entire neighbourhood turned out and went for a whole day's merry-making to the border of a charming lake some five miles distant.., ; ; :• The visitors'at the farm decided to join the party upon this occasion, and, growing enthusiastic oyer it, nothing else was talked of for a week beforehand. All save Miss Waldemar. Shedidnotseem strong, and was still far from well; so she decided to remain quietly at home and run no risk of getting ill before the wedding.. Annie and Grace never appeared more charming; than when, on the eventful morn" ing, they stood together, for a moment or two on the broad,' flatdoor-step while waiting for a carriage to be brought around to (he door.. > .. i ■■

Miss Campbell wore t.v brown- linen suit, plain and simple, but fitting her so faultlessly, and setoff by her tasteful hat with clusters of scarlet poppies, that there was really an air of elegance about it. ' . Annie's dress was of dark-blue cambric, dotted with tiny sprigs of white, very modestly made, and confined at the waist. with a leathern belt, having a huge, . quaint, steel clasp which she hod fastened at the bask, . ',- > . Her hat, of cream-coloured chip, had a simple scarf of white mull bound about it, with a cluster of forget-me-nots on ona aide, and she had " never looked so pretty in the world before," Unole George told her, when she came tripping downstairs and joined Grace on the door-step. ... '"She's the d.iintiest darling of all,'" carolled Miss Campbell, in her clear, rich soprano, as she wound one arm about her waist and regarded her admiringly. Her hand came in contact With that heavy clasp as she did so, and she said: <' " Why do you wear your belt fastened behind, Annie? It isn't the fashion nowadays." , .'•-:. ',! ■ ...•■.*■! "■;..' U - " I know it; but who cares for fashion fn - this delightfully unfashionable' place?" ' Annie retorted, with dancing eyes; then she added : "My belt is a convenience, but' the clasp is a nuisance—it has sharp corners, and is always:catching my gloves and sleeves ; so I put it around there to get it out of the way; I'm going for a. good time to-day, end do not mean to have my pleasure marred by any annoyances, however slight." ■ - But before the day was over they all had reason to bless those very sharp corners, which heretofore had proved so annoying as to cause this disposition of the stout

clasp. . The morning was perfect. It had rained just enough during the night to lay the dust, cool the air, wash the faces of the leaves and flowers, making them look bright and fresh;, and it was a gay party of fifty or more that met at the " old red school-house on the corner," about a mile from Mr Starkey's, the point from which they were to start on their long-talked-of excursion. - ,

The day passed much as all auch days do. It was a real good old-fashioned time, full of simple, honest enjoyment for the simple; honest people who participated in it, while everybody was kind and obliging, ■ ' The dinner was most appetising, and the hungry,crowd that gathered around the rude table partook of the bountiful supply of good things with a zest which spoke volumes, not only for its excellence, bat for the capacity of the merrymakers also. - The afternoon was spent much as theu morning had been—in rowing upon the; lake, or wandering upon its shores; wbila some engaged in'croquet and other games, which had been provided for lovers Of such amusements.

Our friends from New York joined in everything with a heartiness which betrayed real enjoyment, and won for them the good will of everybody; ': " They ain't a bit stuck np, like most of the oity folks I've seen," was the comment; on the buxom damsel who had been playing croquet in the same set With Grace and Annie, after which she had gone to "help the folks clear up," preparatory to going . home. , ! ■: - ■ '«Stuck up," sniffed Miss Starkey, who had overheard the remark. "What could they be stuck up about, I should like to know?" Pi

"Well," replied tho girl, colouring at having been overheard, '.' you know, yourself, they ain't like us country; people; they're nicer in their ways and dress—anybody could pick them cut ot the crowd and ' tell where they belong, pretty quick; but they're jnst as kind and social, and seem to enjoy everything just as if they considered usas good as anybody else, I tell'you. Miss Starkey, everybody iB over head and' ■; ears in love with that pretty niece of - yours." . .- ..; ' ■ . ' ".'-v , " I guess you're aboutjight there; and they've good reason, too, for there ain't many like her in thia world," returned the gratified spinster, who was as busy as any one among the care-takers in helping to pack up the dishes and "gather up tho fragments." .... >_...■,. She cast a fond look, as she sjjoko, over at Annie, who was standing beside Rich, but was chatting merrily., with a tell,' awkward farmer-boy, who, with his hands in bis pockets, and a broad, delighted smile on hie sun-browned face, was gazing at her with his while-heart in his eyes. , - At their right, and at somo little distance beyond them, there was a knoll, covered with a dense growth of alder bushes, ' , Rich was the nearest to this, Annie on hia left, while the youth stood facing -them both, but a little apart from them, hia bashfulness not allowing him to come too • near so fair a divinity .as he seemed to believe Annie to be. It was a group which those two women _ never forgot, and the wild Bcene that-fol-lowed soon after haunted their dreams foeyears; it made their flesh creep with horror whenever the memory of it returned to them, . ' " - " What a handsome man Mr Waldemar ia, too," pursued the voluble maiden. "Yes, ho is, and that ain't the best of it either—he is as good as gold," replied Miss Starkey, heartily. ; . 1; " 'Taint often you see such good-looking ones together," said the girl. "I donffc : believe there was ever so handsome a couple married in Lynnell as they will make." • " You don't remember her father and mother then — no, of course you don't, you wero only a baby wbon they were married," said Mies Starkey, her mind going back to that morning when beautiful Annie Hunting went out from the old homestead leaning upon the, arm of her ' noble husband. > < * , "How nico it must be to have such a handsome beau, and all the nice things that 1 hear Miss Noble's got-to bave a graild wedding, and then go to*tb» city to live," eighed the country lass, nail ' en«Y^ ytheir prospects are quite inviting, I'm tee;TCS?Sb«W Wstarkey, eraveS?"»«Vchild,, believe m&i_n, nine - bases out of ten, our, simple conntw IWels the purest and best. Merciful Heaven) what was that V ■ ,- (To be".Contmued.)p