by unfolding a newspaper in the store and reading an editorial beginning: "We publish today a new and attractive feature of the Guardian, a weekly contribution from a corresp

him. Indeed, during the six years which we are about to skip over so lightly, he became a marked man in Coniston, and it

unable to pay off the mortgage; and sometimes, indeed, he could not even meet the interest, in spite of the princely sum he received from Mr. Willard of the Guardian. This was one of the clouds on Jethro's horizon, too, if men had but known it, and he took such moneys as Wetherell insisted upon g

cian of a certain age in the state who does not remember her walking, clad in dragon-fly colors, through the streets of the capital on Jethro's arm, or descending the stairs of the Pelican House to supper. None of Jethro's detractors may say that he ever failed in kindness to her, and he loved her as much as w

ral, a position which had already been filled. A special office, too, was created on this occasion for an old supporter

lage, and on sparkling mornings after the storms his oxen would stop to breathe in front of the store, a cluster of laughing children clinging to the snow-plough and tumbling over good-natured Moses in their frolics. Cynthia became a country girl, and grew long and lithe of limb, and weather-burnt, and acquired an endurance that spoke wonders for the life-giv

Miss Millicent Skinner, too, was in a like mysterious way compelled to abdicate her high place in favor of Cynthia, and Wetherell was utterly unable to explain how this miracle was accomplished. Not only did Millicent learn to cook, but Cynthia, at the age of fourteen, had taught her. Some wit once suggested that the national arms of the United States should contain the emblem

explained, a few days la

he counter at the mothe

ell-deserved honor of

ist

tomach trouble lately

urprised; "Cynthia i

seven grown-up women in town. And she was four nights se

aught her

lated that Milly was killin

in conference with the librarian at the state library at the capital. But in June of the year when Cynthia was fifteen, Jethro yielded to that passion which was one of the man's strangest characteristics, and appeared one evening in the garden behind the store with a bundle which certainly did not contain a book. With all the gravity of a c

the matte

r that, Uncle Je

wear it!

apple tree and clasped her hands across her k

t I couldn't wear

"Ch-change it if you'v

d, and smiled at

o choose that, Cynthy,"

o I got

ft, and he stood eying the cardinal cloth very mournfully as it lay

er, very much perplexed. She still held his hand in hers. "Uncle

"I don't think that,

ing you give me, although I should love you

ive as Wetherell himself. Even Coniston folk had laughed at the idiosyncrasy wh

to Brampton on the Fourth

couldn't wear t

like a que

a queen," obj

ev someth

with the gleam of laughter in her eyes,

" Jethro

own at her ankles, "shoes and stockings

r. At any rate, he accepted her decision with a meekness which would have astonished many people who knew only that sid

keep it-ha

I will wear it for you

th

in due time the cardinal

wear it on the

llings, and draped along the whole breadth of the meeting-house; but for sheer splendor the newly built mansion of Isaac D. Worthington outshone them all. Although its owner was a professed believer in republican simplicity, no such edifice ornamented any town to the west of the state capital. Small wonder that the way in front of it was blocked by a crowd lost in admiration of its Gothic proportions! It stands to-day one of many monuments to its b

rt. At six o'clock Jethro's three-seated farm wagon was in front of the store. Cousin Ephraim Prescott, in a blue suit and an army felt hat with a cord, got up behind, a little stiffly by reason of that

n and George and Judy and Liza. As they jogged along they drank in the fragrance of the dew-washed meadows and the pines, and a g

d. Commotion is perceived on the tavern porch,-Mr. Sherman, the proprietor, bustling out, Jake Wheeler beside him; a chorus of "How be you, Jethros?" from the more courageous there,-but the farm team jogs on, leaving a discomfited gathering, into the side street, up an alley, and into the cool, ammonia-reeking sheds of lank Jim Sanborn's livery stable. No obsequiousness from lank Jim, who has the traces slipped and the reins festooned from the bits almost before Jethro has lifted Cynthia to the floor. Jethro, walking between Cynthia and her father, led the way, Ephraim, Lem, and Sue Hallowell following, the children, in u

how much that house must hev cost, and even them dogs," said Amanda, staring at the mastiffs with awe. "They tell me he has a grand piano from New York, and guests from Boston railroad presidents. I call Isaac

isn't," said

ntioned Amanda, "I'd sooner have your father than Isaac Worthi

doors of this house opened, and a go

but the other day when he put on long pants. It won't be a great while before he'll go into the

or flaming into her cheeks. And she went

he porch and stood there, frankly scanning the crowd, with an entire lack of self-consciousness. Some

d Amanda, backing behind the bulkier form of her

toward them, nodding and smiling to acquaintances as he passed. To Wetherell's ast

" he said. "Perhaps you don't

storekeeper. They were all absurdly silent, thinking of n

pressing Wetherell's hand again, and before he could th

t much like his dad. You'd never catch

llections. He turned to confront, within the distance of eight inches, the face of Mr. Bijah Bixby of Clovelly screwed up into a greeting. The storekeeper ha

oin' over to the exercises? We'll move along that way," and h

the storekeeper, helplessly, m

past master in Jethro tactics. Mr. Bixby could never disabuse his mind of a certain interpretation which he put on the storekee

n indignant denial, but he did

ited States of America-

. "They can't git at hi

dent at Isaac Worthingto

s you know that,

know, but he was gi

hain't here to see Worthington; he's here to see Je

Mr. Bixby gave him a look of infinite admiration, as t

w be you, Bije?' just as natural as if I was a railroad president, and slaps me on the back. When be you goin' to the capital, Will

ry by escaping into the meeting-house, where he found Jethro

ngton, the one with the hawk-like look, sitting next to the Rev. Mr. Sweet, who is rather pudgy by contrast. On the other side of Mr. Sweet, next to the parlor organ and

s fixed, and he waves a

salute with a nod of unw

ush, and the e

rer of Miss Lucretia Penniman, and the "Hymn to Coniston" declaimed by Mr. Gamaliel Ives, president of the Brampton Literary Club. But the crowning event is, of course, the oration by Mr. Isaac D. Worthington, the first citiz

len for that creed; he paid a graceful tribute to the veterans of the Civil War, scattered among his hearers-a tribute, by the way, which for some reason made Ephraim very indignant. Mr. Worthington went on to outline the duty of citizens of the present day, as he conceived it, and in this connection referred, with becoming modesty, to the Worthington Free Library. He had made his money in B

m it dignified or necessary to state that the railroad to which he referred was the Truro Railroad; and that he, as the largest stockholder, might indirectly share that prosperity with Brampton. That would be wandering too far, from his subject, which, it will be recalled, was civic duties. He took a glass of water, and went on to declare that he feared-sadly feared-that the ballot was not held as sacred as it had once been. He asked the pe

whom many believed the remarks to have been aimed, added no little poignancy to that sensation, although Jethro gave no outward signs of the terror and remorse by which he must have been struck while listening to Mr. Worthington'

ic situation, lingered. Would the mill owner speak to the boss? The mill owner, with a glance at the boss, did nothing of the kind, but immediately began to talk rapi

ord. Well, well. And Miss Jethro," he took off his hat to

id Jethro. "She's a good deal to

said

errill, staring at her,

the boys away from her

a twinkle in his eye, "

annual over my road in

kin', Steve?" inquir

d at Jethro, and

ulder of the lad who stood beside him. "It's a good thing Bob's going off to H

wing a line of v

e of some importance to give him, the purport of which will appear later. And Cynthia

ber me, do y

ashes. Her face was hot, and she had been, very uncomfortable during

reproachfully; "I saw you in front of t

y," replied Cynt

b.. "I suppose you were afraid I wa

ere Jethro was, and discovered that they were alone in front of the meeting

e matter?"

," said Cynthia. "I ough

ll mi

aid Bob, easily, "let's

l come

ained standing, ready to fly. She had an idea that it

-Cynthia,

. He was sitting, with his legs c

han any girl's name I know. Do be good-natured and s

had in it an exquisite note

me to sit down?"

want to t

talk to me

, "but-I shouldn't be able to

her mouth tre

s would that b

's daughter, and he stared at Cynthia so frankly that she blushed again, and turned away. He was a young man who, it may be

ay when you wouldn't take the whistle,"

ynthia, leaning against the t

stood there," he said, aggrieved that his de

?" she demanded. She was really

ted-and broke down and laugh

what I didn't

ynthia, falling

be so-so good-looking,

responded Cynthia. But though she blush

this afternoon?" he aske

g back to

w," said he, springing

him and shook he

Uncle

exclaimed Bob, "

ut he's just the same.

Cynthia laughed at the notion. This young man was certainly very comical, an