ext day, whirling husbands and wives apart, and families into smithereens. Brampton had a stor

hat she had among her sympathizers as many women as men. But the excitement of a day long remembered in Brampton began, for her, when a score or more of children assembled

ny act which might appear dramatic or sensational. She could not resist going to the window and smiling at them, though they appeared but dimly-little dancing figures in a mist. And when they shouted, the more she shook he

ver been to fight and ask no questions, and in his journey through the world he had gathered but little knowledge of it. He had limped home the

Cousin Eph?" Cynthia h

ou mind,

hing hold of his sleeve. "I won

-goin'," cried Ephraim "what I always hev thought of him sence he sent a subs

t Ephraim meant to lay hands on Mr. Worthington, and it would indeed have been a disastrous hour for the first citizen if the old soldier had ever got into his library. Cynthia pointed out, as best she might,

ear,-which had impelled her to go to Coniston. But she had hoped and believed that Jethro, knowing her feelings, would do nothing-since for her sake he had

haunt. This portion, it may be surmised, was composed of such persons alone as were likely to be welcomed by the postmaster. Some of these had grievances against Mr. Worthington or Mr. Flint; others, in more prosperous circumstances, might have been moved by envy of these gentlemen; still others might have been actuated largely by righteous resen

Water below the town. He fairly bubbled over with civic pride, and he was an authority on all matters pertaining to Brampton's history. He knew the "Hymn to Coniston" by heart. But we are digressing a little. Mr. Ives, like that other Gamaliel of old, had exhorted his fellow-townsmen to wash their hands of the controversy. But he was an inti

n hands. On such occasions-though not a member of the Brampton Club-he walked, as an overlord will, into any private place he chose, and re

that and give me a recei

enemies over the log-works at Five Forks. No, for there was a vast contempt in his gaze now, and he had had no contempt for the Southerners, and would have shaken

t, and mighty quick. If you hev any business with the postmaster, there's the window," and Ephraim pointed to

that his lip trembled; some say his eyes watered: at any rate, he quailed, stood a moment undeci

it my duty to report to the postmaster-general the manner in which this office is run. Instead of

gister the letter. But it was done at the wind

Worthington had other and more important things to think about than minor postmasters, and after his anger and-yes, and momentary fear had subsided, he forgot the incident except to make a mental note to remember to deprive Mr. Prescott of his postmastership, which he believed could be done r

lking in the direction opposite to that of his own home. He crossed the street, made a pretence of going into Mr. Goldthwaite's drug store, and hurried back again. When he reached his own library, he found M

an indifferent accent, "Jethro Bass is here-I ra

who runs errands for him in Coniston, drove him in this morning, and he

g which Mr. Worthington shuffled with

demagogue, and mad as a loon. I believe he sent back one of our passes once, didn't he? I suppose Bass has

ss has come down for so

g up from a d

attitude to one of fierceness. But he was well aware that w

erday," said Flint, "that yo

know how like a knell h

ngton'

Flint. We maimed him too thoroughly for that. He

," said th

at?" said his master, w

or going into his hole, and he never would have come out again if you hadn't goaded him. N

He became, as may be predicted, the head of many material things in later day

Mr. Worthington's diap

taken, Flint," he said, attempting

he capital on the eleven o'clock, and if you take the trouble to inquire from B

out Hiawatha. And terrible indeed had been that awakening. This dragon did not bellow and roar and lash his tail when he was roused, but he stood up, and there seemed to emanate from him a fire which frighten

esuvius is silent, pygmies may make faces on the very lip of the crater, and they on the slopes forget the black terror of the fiery hail. Jake Wheeler himself, loyal as he was, did not care to look into the crater

l. He did not stop to reason then that action might distress her. The beast in him awoke again; the desire for vengeance on a man whom he had hated most of his life, and who now had dared to cause pain to the woman whom he loved with all his

n vengeance so indelibly written on that face, and he had never before realized the terrible power of vengeance. Mr. Wheeler returned from that meeting in such a state of trepidation that he found it necessary to accompany Rias to a certain keg in the cellar; after which he found his t

nce in the West; Mr. Cuthbert, of a sterner nature, made up his mind to be hung and quartered. A few minutes before Jethro walked into his office over the livery stable, Senator Peleg Hartington would have denied, with that peculiar and mournful scorn of which he was master, that Jethro Bass could ever again have any influence over him. Peleg was, indeed, at

rampton. Ephraim, though he knew of it, did not speak of it when he came home to his din

e case before the people of Brampton. If they have not the courage to right the wrong,

a mass meeting concerning her

other way, please drop the matter. There are plen

painful to you. I beg you to remember that we are contending for a princi

go to the meet

; "I don't think tha

reet, and that she must fain stop her ears or go mad. The few ladies who called during the day out of kindness or curiosity, or both, only added to her torture. She was not one who could open her heart to acquaintances: the curious ones got but l

eliant young woman. In spite of all her efforts, Cynthia had never wholly succeeded in making most of the Brampton ladies believe that she did not

men, especially those in the new brick block, would be chary as to risking the displeasure of their best customer. At half-past seven Mr. Graves: came in, alone, and sat on the platform staring grimly at his gas. Is there a lecturer, or, a playwright, or a politician, who has not, at one time or another, b

eacon Hartington he was invited to sit on the platform. The senator's personal influence was not to be ignored; and it had sufficed to carry his district in the last election against the Worthington forces, in spite of the abdi

all-wahn't but ten min

y; "thought he w

and as he walked back on the darker side of the street he wished heartily that he had stuck to his original Gamaliel-advocacy of no interference, of allowing the Supreme Judge to decide. Such opinions were inevitably just, Mr. Ives was well aware, though not always handed down im

he front bench with his hands crossed over the head of his stick; but the ladies and gentlemen nearest the door were beginning to vanish, one by one, silently as ghosts, when suddenly the judge sat up. He would have rubbed his eyes, had he been that kind of a man. Four persons had entered the hall-he was sure of it-and with no uncertain steps as if frightened by its emptiness. No, they came boldly. And after them trooped others,

ut turned too late, for the judge had already rapped for order and was clearing his throat. He could not account for this extraordinary and unlooked-for audience, among whom he spied many who had thought it wiser not to protest against t

e a chairman be elected, I mean to ask your indulgence to explain my purposes in requesting the

ing any attention to him. The hall was almost full, the people had risen, with a hum, and as one man had turned toward the door. Mr. Gamal

harmonize with the lady's character. She had the way of one in authority, and Mr. Sherman himself ran to open the door of his only closed carriage, and the driver galloped off with her all the way to the Brampt

ion, that the very children might learn it and honor its composer! Stratford-on-Avon is not prouder of Shakespeare than Brampton of Miss Lucretia, and now she was come back, unheralded, to her birthplace. Mr. Rain

ndeed, could not be sent for, but had he known of her coming he would undoubtedly have had her met at the portals and presented with the keys

re he sat mopping his brow and growing hot and cold by turns. How would the celebrity treat him? The celebrity herself answered the question by entering the room in such

at fame deserves! You could never take time from your great duties to accept the invitations of our literary committee, alas! But now that you are here, you will find a warm welcome, Miss Penniman.

wn ideas about the propriety of

and don't talk nonsense to me. I've had you o

s back. So it is when the literary deities, vestal or otherwise, return to their Stratfords. The

"I want to see the prudential co

Mr. Ives fairly shrieked t

," said Miss Lucretia. "W

mpelled, for his head was spinning round. "Ezra Graves

he doing

of the facts began to shoot throu

g to protest against the

, "you will conduct me to that

, broadcast, and people threw off their carpet slippers and dressing gowns, and some who had gone to bed got up again. Mr. Dodd heard it, and changed his shoes three times, and his intentions three times three. Sho

easured tones of indignation of the cringing, truckling qualities of that very Mr. Dodd. The injustice

accept public situations, follows up the steps as of right and takes the chair he assigns her beside the chairman. The judge, still grasping his Adam's apple, stares at the newcomer in amazement, and recognizes her in spite of the years, and trembles. Miss Lucretia Penniman! Blucher was not more welcome to Wellington, or Lafayette to Washington, than was Miss Lucretia t

er Brampton has followed with a mother's eyes and with a mother's heart. One who has chosen a broader field for the exercise of those great powers with which Nature endowed her than Brampton could give. One who has taken her place among the luminaries of literature of her time." (Cheers.) "One who has do

n! Thy lordl

eyes in ex

-townsmen and women, I h

whom we all love and re

he editor of the Woma

ud and long-con

ions, and this was the speech Mr. Ives had intended to make on those seven occasions. It was unquestionably a neat speech, and Judge Graves or no other chairman should cheat him out of making it. Mr. Ives, with a wave of his hand tow

ge rose, too. He was very angry, but this was not the time to get even wit

ence of any other chairman I take pleasure i

and. Then there was a breathless silence. Then she cast her eyes around the hall, a

retia made it quite clear by her tone that it entirely depended upon them whether they would be or not), "I understood when I came here that

ement was past an audible titter ran through

Chairman?" aske

Miss Penniman," answered the ch

I have scanned the faces here in the hall to-night, and there are some that have not changed beyond recognition in thirty years. Ezra Graves I remember, and it is a pleasure to see him in that chair." (Mr. Graves inclined his head, reverently. None knew how the inner man exulted.) "But there wa

g the audience, and many lean

e reticule. "She went to Boston to teach school, and some time afterward I was offered a position in New York, and I never saw her again. But she married in Boston a man of learning and literary attainments, though his health was feeble and he was poor, William Wetherell." (Another stir.) "Mr. Wetherell was a gentleman-Cynthia Ware could have married no other-and he came of good and honorable people in Portsmouth. Very recently I read a collection of letters which he wrote to the Newcastle Guardian, which some of you may know. I did not trust my own judgment as to those letters, but I took them to an

se I have had the opportunity in Boston this winter of learning to know and love that teacher. I am not given to exaggeration, my friends, and when I tell you that I know her, that her character is as high and pure as her mother's, I can say no more. I am here to tell you this to-night because I do not believe you know her as I do. During the seventy years I have lived I have grown to have but little faith in outward demo

l had meant no more to me than the letters in it I should have travelled twice as far as Brampton, old as I am, to do my utmost to right that wrong. I give you my word of honor that I have never been so indignant in my life. I do not come here to stir up enmities among you, and I will mention no more names. I prefer to believe that the prudential committee of this dis

ront row with his stick. Isaac D. Worthington, sitting alone in the library of his mansion, heard it, and had no need to send for Mr. Flint to ask what it was, or who it was had fired the Third Estate. And Mr. Dodd heard it. He may have been in the hall, but now he sat at home, seeing visions of the lantern, and he would have fled to the palace had he thought to get any sympathy from his sovereign. No, Mr. Dodd did not hold the Bastille or even fight for it. Another and a better m

to recognize Mr. Hill of the prudential commi

in town-meeting; who had never taken an initiative of any kind; who had allowed other men to take advantage of him, and had never resented it. And now he was going to speak. Would he defend the prudential

nd then stood awkwardly with one knee bent, peering at his aud

ing. "I was afraid to come for fear that I should do the very thing I am going to do now. And yet I was impelled to come. I want to say that my conscience has not been clear since, as a member of the prudential committee, I gave my consent to the dismissal of Miss Wetherel

and audience does not frequently forget itself, but there were few present who did not understand the heroism of the man's confession, who were not carried away by the simple and dramatic dignity of it. He had no need to mention Mr. Worthington's name, or specify the nature of his obligations to that gentleman. In that hour Jonathan Hill ros

nse of a climax was ac

wish to pay your respects to the famous lady, who is with us. I see that the Rev. Mr.

gan to flutter his eyelids. The Rev. Mr. Sweet prayed, and so was broug

d not like being cal