Coniston, Book III.

Though it be the prosperous capital of New England, it is a city of homes, and the dwellers of it have held stanchly to the belief of their forefathers that

not go charging over his body: that a helping hand will be stretched out,-a helping and

emont House that morning with the sun str

asked, abruptly, "did

, and looked a

Cynthy?"

ed Cynthia. "I never thought of it before

new her,"

her well?" s

to the window, where he st

," he answer

elly; that the spirit of the Cynthia who had come to him in the tannery house had haunted him all his life, and that she

was sh

t he did not turn round. "She was a clever

leasure because Jethro had compared her to her mother. Sh

sently, "I'd like to go to s

knows it,"

of quaint, old-world streets on the slope beyond: streets with white porticos, and violet panes in the windows. They came to an old square hidden away on a terrace of the hill, a

p stairs to the chamber over the roofs where Wetherell and Cynthia had lived and hoped and worked together; where he had written those pages by which, with the aid of her loving criticism, he had thought to become famous. The room was as bare now

ttom boards, too. "The same bed. Had a shack when I saw him. Callate he would

Eph!" exclai

han that, Cynthia saw that there were tears in his own. He took her gently by the

ttering over the door. Standing before it, Jethro told the story in his droll way, of a city clerk and a country bumpkin, and Cynthia and Ephraim both laughed so heartily that the people who were passing turned round to look at them an

ket for, Uncle Jethr

his head, and would n

n with a bald head. He seemed to know everybody in the room, for he was kept busy nodding right and left at the tables until he c

ou licked 'em again, eh-down in Washington? Never had a doubt but what you would. Is this the new postmaster? How are you, Mr. Prescott-and Cynthia-a young lady!

honest and kind-hearted. Cynthia was not lacking in a proper appreciation of herself-that may have been discovered. But she was puzzled to know why this gentleman should make it a point to pay such particular attention to a

ught he'd take you in the rear by going to Washington, did he? Ha, ha! I'd like to know how you did it. I'll ge

time. Were the wonders of this journey never to c

'll go, Steve-

Although he by no means liked everybody, as would appear at first glance, Mr.

would your wife say if I was to

punishment for that in my house? I know what she'd do if

e matter with it," s

fellows take you round with 'em. To take care

hem. And then Mr. Merrill, having several times repeated the street and number, went, back to his office. There was much mysterious whispering between Ephrai

e Jethro goin

raim, promptly, but his v

re trying to get out of it. You remember

rst to Faneuil Hall. Presently they found themselves among the crowd in Washington Street, where Ephraim confessed the trepidation which he felt over the coming supper party: a trepidation greater, so he declared many time

asion, Cynthy," he said, staring hard at the art

raim could not by any chance have w

exclaimed, "you can't buy

with a floor-walker, and follow Jethro. He, curiously enough, had some fifteen minutes before gone in at the same doorway, questioned the same

t, sir?" asked the saleslady,-fo

loth," sa

f silk would y

? What do you m

id the saleslady,

thro, with consi

hand over her mouth and le

green-do you? That'

ng very decided if not expert views on each of them. At last he paused before two models at the far end

same kind of goo

es

a little shinier

s a little higher," v

ier," sa

if you please

ould you

d to be affected by the same mania. Jethro's eye alighted upon the back of another customer. She was, apparently, a respectable-looking lady of uncertain age, and her own attention was so firmly fixed in the contemplation of a model that she had not remarked the merriment about her

at all unpleasant, was a study in character-development: she wore ringlets, a peculiar bonnet of a bygone age, and her clothes had certain eccentricities which, for, lack of knowledge, must be omitted. In short, the lady was

you do

woman. There's two over here I fancied a

dresses?" she d

o the models. She planted herself in front of t

he age of

said Jethro, whose instinct was agai

med sharply, "it makes a

but to the lady. W

ing? She

n turned her

size i

," said Jethro, po

you may be a very wicked one for all I know. I've lived long enough to discover that appearances, especially where your sex is concerned, are deceitful. Unless you are willing to tell me

steem. He felt that he would rather face General Grant a thousand times than this person. She was, indeed, preparing to sweep away when there came a fami

in astonishment, and then with equal astonishment at the models. "Wha

what you were whisperi

raim buys

, "d-don't you think you ought to have

my country clothes, ar

-I-meant to have it all chose and bought when you com

e some one I used to know a long, long time ago, and I'll be glad to help you. Your uncle may be sensible enough in other matters, but I tell him frankly he

, so's you get

do you really w

nce, and at last a dress was chosen-not one of the gorgeous models Jethro had picked out, but a pretty, simple, girlish gown which Cynthia herself had liked and of which the lady highly approved. Not content with h

that we women were created for a higher purpose than mere beauty. The Lord gave us brains, and meant that we should use them. If you have a good mind, as I believe you have, learn to employ it for the betterment of your sex

ia Wet

as your mother Cynthi

id Cynthi

ad risen and had taken Cynthia i

had a familiar look. It was your mother I

retia Penniman who sounded the first clarion note for the independence of American women, the friend of Bryant and Hawthorne and Lo

hich I must go, but you will come to me at the offices of the Woman's Hour to

whole circumstance to Jethro and Ephraim. Ephraim had heard of Miss Lucretia, of course. Who had not? But he did not read the Woman's Hour. Jethro was silent. Perhaps he was thinking of that fresh summer morning, so long ago, when a girl in

till be in Boston to-morr

s," he said, "yes." "W

uestion, but countered. "Hain't

thought it strange that he would not t

ew of the postmastership in his packet) a ne

. Ephraim even went so far as to discuss the question as to whether Mr. Merrill had not surpassed his authority in inviting him, and full ex

he discovered with a shock of surprise that he was actually leaning back, describing in detail how his regiment had been cheered as they marched through Boston. And incredible as it may seem, the person whom he was entertaining in this manner was Mrs. Stephen Merrill herself. Mrs. Merrill was as tall as Mr. Mer

and merry like her father. Susan talked and laughed, and Jane sat and listened and smiled, and Cynthia could not decide which she liked the best. And presently they all went into

. Prescott," said Susan, who

however, had for the m

he took dinner with J

ve been a happy one, but its lack of appropriateness d

body ate anything. Presently I found out that Binney's wife ran her house same as they run hotels. Pretty soon a couple of girls come in and put down some food and took it away again before you had a chance. A-after a while we had c

en. I'd made up my mind that if I could ever get Mis' Binney to eat at my place I would, so I asked 'em to stay to dinner. When we set down,

ittle mite scared, I guess.

nd to.' O-ought to have heard the Judge laugh. Says he to his wife: 'Fanny,

as poor Mis' Binney's had been served, were fain to leave the dining room abruptly, and one of them disgraced herself at sight of Jethro when she came in again, and had to go out once mare. Mrs. Merrill insisted that Jethro should pour out his coffee in what she was pleased to call the old-fashioned way. Al

want his railroad. Or unfortunately, which was it? Jethro didn't know. He never laughed at anybody's jokes. But Cynthia, who was listening with one ear while Susan talked into the other, gathered that Jethro had been struggling with the railroads, a

o make elaborate apologies to the ladies. But Jethro and Mr. Merrill were still closeted together in the dining room: once Mrs. Merrill had been called to that con

a little more grave than usual, "your

dining room. Was it the light falling from above that brought out the lines of his face so

it, Uncle

n the table, "I want you to do something for me e

you, Uncle Jethro," she answered;

rill, don't you

like the gals-don't y

, perpl

h to-to live wi

th them

tay in Boston this winter and

though he never quite knew w

only look at him in dismay, but the t

ange for you. And I shan't be so lonesome as you

he said reproachfully. "I should be lonesome, if you

ynthy. S-said you would,

u want me

winter, Cynthy. Shouldn't think

ol. Daddy taught me a lo

ore. I know as much as m

Coniston this winter,

ected my lesson

ain't what you'd get in

nt

hen?" sh

"they'd teach you t

lad

now much about the ways of fine folks. But you've got it in ye, and I want you should be equal to the best of 'em

turned to him, and then the tears wer

nswered. "Uncle Jethro, I believe

a sharp agony was in his voice. He got to his feet and went to

he'll sta

nd while she tried to wipe the tears away she felt Mrs. Merrill's arm about her, and heard tha