John Ward, Preacher

first time that she is loved, stung through all her consciousness of grief at having wounded her old friend. Tears came into her eyes once, and yet she did not know

irst time in her simple girlish life, L

elf, and she was tired; and that gave her the right

s heart ache. The resistance and spring of the climbing roses made her lean out to fasten her lattices back, and a shower of dew sprinkled her hair and bosom; and at the sudden clear song of

not last; the remembrance of the night before forced itself up

ter a wedding, and Lois was glad to have t

glass to the servants. So Lois wiped her cups and saucers, and then, standing on a chair in the china-closet, put the dessert plates with the fine

s pushed back, for Dr. Howe was fond of sunshine. In the open fireplace, between the brasses, stood a blue jug filled with white lilacs, and the big punch-bowl on the sideboard was

ver her arm, and she washed and wiped some wine-glasses with slender twisted stems and sparkling bowls, and then put them

, would have said she was dawdling, but Miss Deborah Woodhouse, who had come over to the rectory early to see if she cou

" she added, taking off her gloves, and

to do," Lois answered, smiling, as she closed

an's housekeeping; indeed they do! And I hope he'll have a maid who knows how to put the lavender among the linen; there's always a ri

t off for a fortnight," Loi

led,-"I thought so, too; but last night he said he was going at once. At least," stopping to correct herself, "de

was s

seem perfectly happy. Of course you wouldn't be apt to observe it; but

iced it," sai

to me. I always thought that when they grew old enough, dear Giff and Helen would care for one another; and so I don't wonder that he has

er glasses. "Oh, yes, there's no doubt Gifford felt it," she said, "but he'll get over it. Those things do n

hurriedly, "and I think I should have k

l meet some nice girl in Lockhaven who will make him happy; indeed, I shouldn't wonder if we heard he was taken with somebody at once; hearts are often caught on the rebo

ore to do. She was very anxious to bring Miss Deborah's conversation to an end, and grateful that Jea

counted 'em all myself; I wouldn't trust 'em to that Sally. If there was a hair's difference, Mrs.

a doubt of it. I'm going now, and Miss Lois will walk along with me.

r about the wedding, and vaguely glad when, at the gate of her aunt's h

. Dale did not approve of faded carpets, and the roof of the veranda, supported by great white pillars, darkened the second-story windows. There was no tangle of vines about its blank walls of cream-colored brick with white

, ivy had been permitted to grow, and there were a few larch and beech trees,

ether, and weeds too, if the truth's told. I never could understand how the Woodhouse girls could endure tha

weakness of a rocking-chair,-before a spindle-legged table, covered with green baize and with a cherry-wood rim inlaid with mo

nd decide if she should move it. Then she glanced at the girl over her glasses. "I'm just waiting here because I must go into the kitchen soon, and look at my cake. That Betty of mine must n

game again. She was able, however, to talk while she played, and poin

e motes dancing in the narrow streaks of sunshine which fell between the bowed shutters, and across the drab carpet to the white wainscoti

g. Helen's marriage seemed only an incident to Mrs. Dale; the wedding and the weather, the dresses and the presents, which

way to Helen in everything; and that isn't as it ought to be,-the man should rule! And then, besides that, whoever heard of his people? Came from the South somewhere, I believe, but he couldn't tell me the first name of his great-grandfather. I doubt if he ever had any, between ourselves. Still, I hope for the best. And I

Jean and I can see to things. Miss Deborah cam

is so un-practical. But it's lucky you have Jean. Just wait till you get a house of y

a house of my own," s

y little chance of it, unless you go away to make a visit, as Helen did. There is only one young man in Ashurst; and now he's going. But for that matter, Gifford Wo

o girl could be happier than I am; to hear father call

ressed,' it means the old maids. I'm sure the 'fatherless children and widows' are thought of, and why not the poor, forlorn, unmarried women? Indeed, I think Archibald is almost selfish to keep

sort!" cried Lois. "I wouldn't leave Ashurst for

but yourself. He was my brother for thirty-four years before he was your father. I o

hem out again in little piles, and also to reprove

now whether you remember the Forsythes; they used to visit here; let me see, fifteen years ago was the last time, I think. Well, they are going to take the empty house near us for the summer. She was a Robinson; not really Ashurst people, you know, not born here, but quite respectable. Her father was a button manufacturer, and he le

wrinkling her pretty forehead in a puzzled way. "

alking about her aches and pains all the time! But that's where the button manufacturer showed. She was dev

saw Gifford shake him once; 'he

mes," Mrs. Dale said. "But then, those Woodhouse girls

Giff is unmanne

course he isn't like Mr. Forsythe. Gifford hasn

rtance," said Lois. "I don't think m

ay; have a little more repose. I mean this young man is-he is very different from anybody you have ever seen in Ashurst. But there is no use trying to tell you anythi

hed, and

hem on the table to get the edges straight, she said to herself, "But perhaps it won't be necessary to have a winter in town!" And

oice, my dear," he said, wi

l, and a soft red silk handkerchief was spread over his white hair to protect his head from possib

I was telling her the Forsythes were coming. It

u mean?" as

uld I be apt to mean? You have no

d meekly, "you want t

chmaker, and no one detests anything of that sort as I do,-no one! Fall in love, indeed! I think the expression is positively indelicate, Henry. Of course, if Lois

ou urg

it was considered healthy. (I understand Arabella!) I knew her son was

sponded