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Looking. careworn and shrunkenl `he sat down on the grass. He wasl so clumsy, he thought, so tactless and so awkward, in the face of this crisis. But Mary-`--Mary who slept so `silently. there-she would have understood. He raised his head; Out; along` the roads the waggons were passing, the `fields were golden with- grain, and` rang with the song of the. .reaper. But under the maples there, 'was quiet, and an infinite solitude. 1 THE DECISION. I The autumn night had come..Ther'ei was no wind; and up in the vault of the sky there sparkled a myriad of stars crisply and frostily. In` her own "room in the old brown house the girl moved about in stealthy yet nervous .haste, for this was her swed- ding night. Her ngers trembled over her task, but their intuitive deft intelligence stood her in stead as she folded some garments and packed them into her bag. `Hurried she was and afraid, for already it was late, and presently she must slip out and go down the spring path to John, who was waiting for her there. E l Presently the tears came into her `eyes. The homely and familiar things about her seemed to say good-bye. Her father would never forgive her, she knew, and her mother s picture on the mantle-piece seemed to gaze at her reproachingly. Yes, she was leaving it all-her little belongings, her memories and the sight of her father s face. `She listened, almost longingly, for some sign of the old man s, presence--a movement, a cough,'or footfall. In a little while he stirred, passed across the kitchen` oor. and she heard the back door creak as he stepped out in the yard. i""-" "- " "rr"' "" It seemed strange to her that one of his years should venture abroad so late. It was not hisvcustom, and it might be that in the darkness- Almost she was minded to go and look for him. But she could not tarry, for John--hen'ceforth and for- ever her John--would be delayed and wondering. ` GL3 nu...-u-Ll an #111: cnfnho` -1111` wuuucx ung- She caught up the satchel and stepped out into the light of the stars. A light breeze stirred, and she started nervously. From the shadows of the apple trees great shapeless forms seemed to reach blindly and gropingly. A nameless] dread assailed her, and she shut her teeth hard and ed. `~ For a space she ran on breathless- ly. Then she recovered herself, stopped, and looked back. Suddenly she turned and held out her arms appealingly. Unqualied Success of Lydia. E. Pinkha.-m s Vegetable Compound in Cases of Mrs. Fox and Miss Adams. Tumors Conquered without Operations 0n:~of thejgrafeet ti-ium` his of Ieydia. E. Pinkhanfl Vegetable m und is the conquering of woman e drea enemy, Tumor. - _ Bo-cI.l`l6d_ ` wandering pains may come from It! early 3 , or the preence_ of dpnger may be m e manifest by ex-' Qiln I-nl\I\C`|1t9 I\4!D:l\l`l_1 nnnnnnr\av\:nI` V3 9.3%?` III`, 'JcIJlGl.`I`7 Illllllcll ll] `EL eumvo monthly penods accompamed bgd unusual pain extending from the I omen throughithev groin and thighs. `V Y` `can: `unuops V-an...-L;.._';_.-.- ma.-.` :' v\I\nA4\ TYTYTICC UCCD3`CII UI>I\I' 6-I `JIII GE:I\I WI-I-`IC\b If ygu l_1ave mysterious pains, if there areindxcutions of mammation, ulceration 6r.d5gj)_laoement, don t ivaitfor time to`- cohrm your feamand go through the` horrors of a. hospital 0 ration; secure Lydia` EL] Pinkhamd "egetabl `Com- i N:-#2199 i pound-ationee and begin its yuseqnd wtb *'M.-rs. P_ini':ham of Lynn,` Mam, Iva -sunvqvuu ~ A Reid these strong letters from grateful- women who have been cured: . .Dear Mrs. Pinkham 2"? (First Letter.) til 'l\t\`7:I'|lD `n\IvA- `v1\I1- `n4\A\`w T ...... LI...` ~ ntvwn ounce J IIJIILQIDILI n", \l'1lBI; JJCPLTJ .[ - In looking "over our book I see that .v\_;_ -|r`_z_.~~ I'n2_'_1_IL_._. your medicine cures umors. I have been to.a_doctm: and hetells me .1 have a: tumor. I W111 be more than grateful if you can.` help as Idoso dread an operation.--_. Fmxiie] .' Fox`. Brauford, Pa. . ' A IC'- A IDUQIUUIC. T; . Eighten m<)z.1tb'sA a o` my periods 81ortly_'a_f_te1- I `It s< b dly I `I b- 'I'iIittd`t0 a.`$l;ox'ou h e:xam({nnti)onaby a 1:hly- Iician and was to I .tlmt;I had a. tumor and on! ,haveto3;n__7 ggn operation. I soon aftcx-_ re ' one of _o_ur advertise-, thin!` dectdedgto.-give ydia E. Pin'k-* "5 rum.-getap_1e Com ound -a..tria1.,-._fAer `-'I:n"|3iinT?`1 rn`Ii`.2x|`6*I"na'=in ai 4.'.aM`.i.l `J1n`..`-"-z`.......;.. 3- - --u..-` ,- . - v- -.--.-r-`-sq, - In! `Dear. ~Mi; Pink`ham$:-'-- v(Fec9nd Letfer.) Y ..1..._n.- I:l......4....4.. .............;..1-.-.---.- ,.. I|lU.~u,,l _VCKVlaU1C \a"JlI.l UUIJQ '3 11181. AXIS!` tdkin fiive` b'o'ttlep's; irectd, the" tumor is I have gin beencxamineq. Ia.';.II__._-V .I_l,l,,.1I`.~ nu` II Lftlll 8113- Jgunualzu .` ' xrcupuu ucucr.) . I I take-the libettyto congratuiuteyou on the s_u9oess.I have had with your wonderful medzo1ne.;;; '- - ' W - ` ` 9: o (VI:-A inn er nor? n1-1 Q 1 _. saw` v ugun-nun Iv\a_\aA1 vnununuv Cl 'L}&i7'I"iI1ituam's Vegetable _G0NI?0IE i Dwelling (11 rooms). stable, drive house, sheds and nearly *4 of acre of land in garden and la wns Corner of Peel and Wellington Streets, Barrie. Dwel1ing--6 rooms, stable and shed. Large lot on Peel Street. '\1uuu'|-Jn Juvn.|-um R-....\.....-. l... A..-L __- 111 ,, IUL Ull TC!`-l DLFCUL. Double dwesling. (Brooms in each, on (`lap pertonstreet. Vacant lot, 2 of an acre, on Penetu.n{;uishene Street. Apply to F. M. NIONTGOMERY. I-In I-1\:A Order `your wedding invitations early and at the right place., The Advance Job Printing Department -makes a specialty of this class of work. All the latest samples of stationery. Call and see us before ordering. Advance Job Printing department. | Daddy," she whispered. Daddy! . Almost as if in. answer there was a footstep in the path, and a voice, low and subdued, broke the silence `that encompassed her. ` Daughter! - t_he girl almost screamed, the stram had been so great-~Is that you, daughter?" I He came to her and took her rent- 5 I ' ' on 1 1y 1:} his arms._ Hes down there, Annie," he_wh1sp-ered. Right down by the sprmg. I went down a min- ute ago, an I found him there. An- -- an --I ve sent fer the preacher, An- nie. I want you to be married at home! Y-y-yes, shgstammercd. Yes, father. __ _..-_.. --.. aqpuunau, avawuv 1 W r we--'= vi?- Barrie Proprty For Sale. M} II`, uyuus 1'4. K111511311]. VUSUIBUIU _ Efmpound before aubmittin an oper- nt,ion, and I at oce started ing a la: treatment. nding to my great relic I-that rnv oannrn] hon hadron in imnnnvn And I,'.' :. 7iF6}'t'{{r'7a" "'c5?r'sYw3BT1e}i"i?h" ' ' .a.untintheNcw n landStates,whoad ' -:me.to. try Lydia . Pinkham. a Vegetable nmnntn hnfnra nnhrnitnsr in nu n-nan. 'nsgL_1_1g utauxuuuca. xuc uuclur prcsuuoou for m .but.-ndigexg that Ifzdid not get my better e examin me and, to my mrpriu. declared I had a. tumor. -` .A1- A1; ., , ,; _-f-'-',,,,; ,,__ j,,xL llfl AIJI.Dc L IIIIIAIILIJ 077 About three years ago I had` inbenao pain in m stomach, with cramps and -ragi_ng 1 _ aches. The doctor prescribed for ma '|-uul-.Rn:'Hno {hat Twhl nnl an! an- "%-'1'}2i{ Z32" {1'T"i z`~;.e.nt my death warrant; and was .`very - disheartened. I `sgnt hn_n red of dollars in (1 ring, but t etuinor ept growing. till the octor said. JL.;I- -.1-.6:an`nn Run` an r\\1|nI:l\I\ -u4uu`n` `an-g . HI ILILH (I11 UI UUIIUITI III II I111`. UH. _e tux'nr that nothing but an operation would `sun me. Fortunate] I corresponded with nun} in ll-an Nan! .!1l!`VIl" fans: who ni i'r"Izt_xhe".xi. '?{1'iEEt'<>"ixI}-' grea""t"i,1i'e?Tt'13i3 my general healt began to im rove, and after three months `I noticed than the tumor had reduced in size; I kepton taking the Compqhnd. and in ten. months it had entire- ly d;_sappcamd without. 311.0 ration, and using-nomedicine but Lydza . Pinkha.m n _~Vegg-table. Con_11'>ou-nd and words fail to express show. hem! `T am-for the good it has done me.` -Miss'Luc11a Adams, Colon- nade Hotel, eat1g,gWaa1;5. Quid. ..............A...._..'l..-1.:'4..`...L:....-_._ __.-_-_. by theplxysicinn and he says I have no `signs of a tumor now. It has also brought my periods around once more; and I an `entirely well. I shall. never be without 0 bottle of Lydia Pinkham s Vigetgbb `Com ou_nd in the house.-Fannie . 0). star `ADA DI: ` (`3<');1`1wo11.`1'1.(1 ii? Bra ford. Pa. LI:'i.""T'nnnn.&'.'vs've$u'S:'.'Eo.'i3 annual Pinkham :- s-ZT'{V;: """' """" ~`.",v-. " "",`_'_ Such unquestionable teqtimony proves the value of Lydia E. Pinkham a Vege- ftabie Compound, and` should give con- denoe andghopei to every sick woman. Jlhn .D~3nH-ma .n1rilnn`n]1 .:1:'.... ..-....- ~!49%"1**~`:`>0 ex51`Lym.=.~Mam. for advice. I Q Ila!|m'|9nl."I:n-'nJ- lg: IIl.....-..i."|II. A BAKE `DISH makes an - exceedingly useful and much appreciated gift. dish of the finest sxlver plate, having a removable granite lining. and richly orna- mented handles. OUR larlge and handsomely illustrated Catalogue will be request show-' ing a very large assortment of these serviceable dishes. AT $5.00 we. are ofFerir.g a ' - digh sver RYBIE BROS.. '.Anotl-I`e;-Case of Tumor oma by null: E Dlnh-nu : `Inn-Afnluln (`Anu- WEDDING INVITATIONS. 42tf Limited" 134-138 Yone St. rrononro ' I I`J1\. I . Burne r or can- season by !.'"-M \av_ '15,} s-1-oz:-:--so-z:-3 o~- u \ll |l|r\. For one m-mcnt the girl was dis- D0Se In laugh at l1im--to tell him `hat the sprin;.; and the pail had been there erc shc came, and would be `here after 5116 had gone. But~thle man was yuung and goodly to look "Don and the w()111an was a daugh- l" 0f live. hrncc she` cast a Quick Nance backwzml at the path. There was nothing there save a sparrow balancing ix.-lf on a bough, soshe `rusted hm-c1r to look at the tempt- `T again. Mixes," .~`l1<- replied, glancing rt. Hon:-tin-0me~% linos ...:..+a..g.~.%i;i tre manddus Perceiving the intruder upon her private domain the girl gave a little start of .~:urpriso. then tilting her sunbonnet fnrw:1r(l she came down and leaned wer the spring. n!` All ruwu I ~ -- -"~ *r" U` I "S-21-y!" The man was very red. Twice he had cssuyed to call to her, but it .~`.( Cmt'(1 to him that this swift- lybcating hum had each time risen mhis thrmztl and choked him. Then` he had rmli:/.c- that his opportunity was pa.~:sing. and at last he had Spoken. but his voice sounded Odd. and strained. Would she wither h1n1with :1 ~ _'nrnf111 glance or W0111d She Iukv up hz-r bucket quickly and- \'ani.~`h :=.1un;_r the path? ` She ma m-ithvr. She lifted the! MCI S_m-(1~;(1 the! P811. nm-.' lled 1., the brim, , and Placed it un the broad at stone at P3 Side mi {he} spllg; then she faced. hI1_cz1ln1]_v uml :mswcred him. \\hat is it?" .~hc asked. V H t`.\'<?>' ~`wn1r- to discoucert him . 3nd}1c ant about hurriedly for zvgrds. "C`11-~-~61: I come over there n rmt .. J..f,,l " ` ; ya - at the str doubtfully ; `U ' ' -4--wuu auu Lucu uaus nu. uuu dbtfu11y; cmnc, if you want to. 29 Understood her look. Theressa m_0:0t:l0 g bvhm'," he said, but I ll, ing5b>0- He caught a_n overh_ang-\ ly Iranch and swung hnnself 11ght- ' H another moment he VV35 x \u Ll get :1 drink? 5{' glancing fst` iitreanx and ghen back at hI l,`n` y. `I, _ -..L A.- Made in many siies and. prices --but of only one quality---the best. V - """-' ;;.:;;3':.: 331g a}! over Canaan`, a;IjM_1'E77 Wed hke you to kno _ more about them. 7.24- 4- ,1 .1 . , '"""-7 .4001 tnem. ` Wnte to-day .fo.r- vireo ` 93rl|Itlve booklet .telI- ` lnrr ...L-- In- 4.-,._ t\._`;__-.- _ vvvv -yslvv IIUVBIDI still "'_' Why Martin-0r me` ' Pianos are superior. . ~ -A Martin-Dunc win bet}, shipped direct to yoin V if ll_zere's no dealer `in Ty5if" vrcinity. V * - - 3'; Prices _a.ud` tormpvg; 9 request to anyaadggeq; a bo,ttle to-day '[f t doesn t `cure y U"-"<%=;B '*haj`,%hYt.hing you ever med hell gw_e Vy0 l,1f your moncybggk :5; safest, su_rest and quickest medV V ` icing: It has beenbgtnng cough! Ind colds forgq. A .I (I nn 3. co ' ' `V ' '. . ten : NOV. 7:1-;,.',% Then as he beganto apologize she looked at him curiously. Last Sab- bath he had been seated just oppo- site .to her in the church, and his home lay yonder, not a -full two miles from her own. All his lie she . had known of his comings and go- ings, .and yet _`never before-had `he spoken to her, Twenty years ago their for-bears had indulged in a falling out--a little thing at "first, but one which had" speedily grown --and since that time no Nixon had spoken to a Hains, nor a Hains to, a `Nixon. And yet, to-day", after all these years -of strife, a Hains had come" of his own free will to put foot on the Nixon soil, and to ask V from a woman of the Nixon's the favor of a -drink from her hands. Why had he come? To` sh? `She glanced at the _ neglected rod and smiled at the very suggestion. l You're "John Hains, aren t you? she asked, looking up at him and smiling. Underneath the smile she was questioning as to what her fa- ther would say, should he nd this visitor; here, Inuenced by her smile a sudden accession of courage came to the man. He had been afraid that she might remember that quarrel which their fathers had made, and for all his six feet of stature he was unused to women and sensitive.` Moreover,- above all others this woman had power to malge him feel. Now, how- A-on-o` `ma `non OQCIIPFA nd he aauuu. . _ _ iJt'1st to think, he said , of you an` me `pun-tendin not -to know one another. Why, I ve been a-knowin you, Annie, since you were so high --and be measured `gleefully with his.h'an`d. Gee whiz, how pretty you were! I didn t dare speak to you, but-but-- ' His face `was growing red again, and a new light `had come into his eyes. . ,r LL- ......1. .....,.,i nncuun w-----' -7 _ The woman s % her a sufficient moved uneasily. ,goin now, she cally. .4u1v 1 1 A__,, call) . 1 Wou1d_you--the man had grown `nonplussed and- awkward again- would you mind, Annie, if I-I came back sometimes-to-to get `another drink? - , She looked down at the hem of 'her apron , then gathered it up in her ngers and creased it into tiny folds. How angry her father would be if he but knew. - ur.`-;.L___ H 5], :fn'rnef'ed .fath_ UK: I1 u\. was. -- Father--,- she stammered, .fath-|. er, he-- It was she who was "em-I barrassed now. The man nodded; condentially. I know, he caid, I know. That's why I asked you. She glanced at him shyly. I--1'. don t mind, she replied, He picked up the bucket. I wish I could carry it for yeh, he remarked. `I would, only- He was half-minded to walk with her straight to her father s door`and tell ' that old man that his folly, of quar- relling mustvstraightway cease. But she interrupt"ede_him. ' ~It wouldn t-do-it would make `more, trouble. I must go now. Good- bye--.-]---`]oVl'm. y I '- The man stood watching her con- 'templatively a.s:sh'e vanished up the lpam. All his life.,he had.,wished to \accost her, toimake himself agree- able to her, but he could not because -his elders and -hers-rthose. elders -who think 4th'ems.elves so wise, and -who-wish to be as `gods m`-regulating `the affairs `of their children-had '_ ordered otherwise`. . Once----they . were .1 at school then andshe had forgotten | all" ' a`bOut =it.x no-' doubt-`--hevhad-s -thrust a big, red. apple into her hand and .ha. run. away hastily; and 8111:. being la `wise "little girl; i had" "itiii`dia t`ely `eaten the apple lest some one should lbe questioning. In after yearstwhen `be In atter yciua mu... `-more '--of maturity ` and s`elf- cl'5h's ciI`3us- ness had come to him he had hidden his ypreference -hand-.-had looked ugon Wher.furtively..v `But even as `he grew _ta1l`an_d`r.f st:-ong,_s_o ~'his_ desire had `grown; yet Fate and his] elders were `against him all the while. But to-Lday manhood had dawned, and he had come her"e,fo '"t-ake Fate` by`-T-rthe thxibat and to speak_to the girl. ,Yeste hay he had been a child,` 'heedful"of thpse V who commanded 'h idm;=`. now he was A ;ready _-to. make h1s JOWI1 problems and __ golve/them. i - - * ""xn. -.. 4-ha` aria-1 Chad" [EH3 SCIIUUI buys. ..-... _--_ , [ a1la`bout it.\. doubt--he` 1 1 had run _away hastily; -. Riyise httle girl} had in spllve mem. . . When thegirl had` disappeared} he .tur'ned back to the creek, _st,rpd_e, through "the weeds and). brushwoocf to th _e_ vfoqt-log` _ which ;lay befqw. ;:'1`hn L ';rpssmg-. thns. he I. took _his way. a. memArd_V ithrough ithc;.%\9=z11zht Mt; * on the e ds;--o_ f'ol:cl;: ` - I-u V`, -r--- wit of. the girl gave __............. nrlr` aha: gh town and arlora. In- Work of WIL U1 LIIC 5111 suvv warning, an she I---I ve go to Vb_e remarked apologet1- "h7i1'1-,' to ;i.tsc.;,;.e, of t_l_1`at.;~ clover-eld ,beyond which lay thegray porch of the? weatherebeaten dwelling-g." Atthe rail fence she halt- 'ed a moment. Already the after- noon was passing- and the old house and the apple trees at its back barred. with long lines of shadows in their setting of purple and gold--- the pur- ple of "the clover-bloom and the -streaming. gold of the sun--while at the gate of the clean` little yard her father stood "shading his eyes 'and looking *toward the farm hands who were at work in a distant wheateld. t At their igaiii Sfiae };{z}iEii}$1Ii man the; gir1 s`conscience smote her suddenly. People of the neighbor- -hood called Bill Nixon a harsh man and one given to prejudices, but he had never seemed so to her, for she was. his child and. her mother was he was father and mother in one; in `her childhood he had nurtured. her, and in her fair young womanhood he -`was proud of her. All this she knew and-now it seemed to her that she _ had sinned against him in that she .had failed to scorn the man from , And yet- ' - whom he would have withheld her. P01 long since dead. To _her, therefore,- She was not willing to follow up all her questionin-gs. W'hat she had done was done--why think further of such a trivial thing? She swung her bucket clear of thefence, and lifting her skirt daintily, she went toward him" across the clover. He was grow- ing old; his labors of other days had prospered; now in the evening of life he could rest if he wished to. So he had left his hands at their work, and had come for cool water and refreshment into the shade of the apple trees. ' - .7r`__~ -_--~. His eye tewinkled as she ai)proach- ed. Somebody mislaid the spring? he asked, solicitously. Why? V _We-e-ell, you was gone quite a wlnle, so I thought mebbe the place had _been moved an that you was a- _look1n fer it. to the shelf that was on the porch and put the bucket -away. Usually she replied to,banter in kihd, but now she was silent and seemxngly` wished to escape, But the old man did notnotice this. He was thinking of other things. And when he had quenched his thirst and had slanted a chair- back downward against the porch- facing, he brought a pillow, placed it upon this incline which he had made, and stretched himself upon the oor. There-he dozed for a while, and af- terward he watched the girl from his . half-c1osed `lids, and looked now and again at the robins which were nest- ing in his trees. Last `year there had been but one nest, he remembered, but, now, since the young birds of last season had builded, there were two. Then, as he turned his eyes away and gazed down the stretch of nearby road, he could see another house which was brown and old like - his own; beyond that men were mov- ing about--men who looked tired and small in the hot and hazy distance- and a raw, new frame of yellow pine was being reared. That was Sam V\ ilsorr s place, and the new house belonged, to` Sam s son; The young folks were marrying o,.and here and there new nests were a-building. Presently he looked at his daugh- ter again, an-d a queer little jealous spasm tugged sharply at his heart. ome day--lit was not a very distant day perhaps-she too would he go- ing, He shrunk from the thought; it frightened him. One by one he told off in his mind the young men- of the neighborhood--all save. John Hains, there was no use counting a Hains, he told himself--'-and being dissatised, he shook his head at each. With which among them all could he trust her? Even now, though she was grown to be a wo- man, he could still feel the pressure of her childish arms about his neck, the clasp of her baby ngers upon his own. She had been- so little, so lov- ing, and he had spoiled -her, perhaps; -and this man who would take her from him wouldn t know about that -and-how could it be possible that gshe should care for that one more lthan she cared for daddy-rough, tender-hearted old daddy, who I lovedsher so? ' . So his soul was disquieted, and the broad sun slipped down and kissed the western hills and the laborers came home from the elds singing and whistling along the paths. -But the `girl took no heed of the under- tone of sadness and of vague regret in it all, nor was . she conscious of` the rich blaze of fading sunset color, nor of -the- dyingulight on the hills, read o`:inc\.:ia--and eaten biocu'm- you don t know biscuits"--until you try Many : Perfection Ctcam Soda. Theyjtrc, _v=r>"hinz that qheidcdbiscuits ohould_be. , 1-he air-tight, mo-meqsroof bring: men. to you x _-_.- cg:-`Dana Wiipp |lIV|l.|II`o . . -%Pt-stictlly every FinC-n-da MO0NEY S. Yours will get them In 1 8: 31b. pkgs`. 'rm`~: Nourttimv AiDV.41\`UE `"`"_"""""'"1An1u)RssMAI L LBYMVAIL 1 n A `x. :9; g;..`..r`;..; ham. . , 01-Take a Personal fonrae at School. Toenable allrto learn. we teach on cash or instal- ment plan. Wealso teach a personal class at schoa 4 `once a month-r-class cornmenoin last Tuesday at `each month. These lessons teach ow to out, t and put together any garment. from the plainest shirt suitto the most elaborate dress. The whole far canlearn tron: one-course.` We have taught over .00Q.dress_rnakar,s and guarantee to give $500 toanyone who cannot learn between the ezesot M and 49. You cannot learn dressmaking as thorough as this course teeo_hes it_ it you work in shops tor yous Beware of rmitatuons. es we employ no one outside the school. `This is the only experienced Dress Cutting School in Canada. and excelled by none in any other eoun'try.- write at once frr par- ulm. are have out our rate `one-third tor a Hun, leldl-nae uxnnns scaoox. a1:usouuoc; scnuud.ou.._cu-an. l `nor of the shadows creeping np the village, nor of the night birds calling from the orchard and the _woods. 31`rue,,the night had come, but Annie was thinking of the afternoon, and of the spring, and the man in the dark-blue overalls. It was good, she thought, to live and she `went singing; about` her work. - :_._._. l"M--1-~M Between the man and the girl there had been other meetings--su.ch frequent meetings that the gossiping lu.-usewives of the neighborhood wagged . their heads sagely, and, when two or three were gathered together in one place, they indulged themselves freely in forecasts and adventured forth into prophecy. Did they not know Bill Nixon, and was John Hains a man easily controlled and readily turned aside in his pur-_ pose? vs . II I` .1` ,,. f r---. But regardless of the comments of others the two continued to see each other sometimes-this on meeting- days--a't the church, sometimes by accident as they travelled the coun-' try road, and, if Bill Nixon suspected aught, he gave no sign--at 1east,non'e that his daughter or the public could read. To some it seemed that the old man had wilfully shut his eyes and did not wish to see. Q)thers avcrred that such was Nixon s hatred for a Hains that it had not even oc- curred to him that his daughter would look at John, much less tarry within the sound of the young man s voice or hearken to his stammering speech. 1-; . 11 I _) `L `J`I') un-n-o` as-"I vblarnesmithe U young folks though. John Hains, he are a 'man--built from the groun up, he is, and muscled like a steer. An Annie --why, Annie, bless her heart, is as red-lipped as a young rose, an sir, she's clean-limbed, an as light in her pastern j ints as a thoroughbred colt! I don t blame John---he s got a good farm, an they ll git married one 0 these days, an ole Bill, he 11 r ar then_ an pitch, but his gal ll be married all right enough, so it won t do a bit 0 good. Yes, siree, Bill s got to wake up some time. I m dang sorry fer Bill. I shore is. \-rr`vtv--- ` Bill 1_l waken up one 0 thesel days, saxd one of the apologists. I In such a fashion the community! kept the matter forward and knew far: more of its progress that old Bill did, or for that, even Annie herself or John. I '. .1`- _L_-..L2..._ ...J 5.. _,v..... And yet, despite this absorbing ad- venture which was stirring the good folk up, Nature went her own way steadily and was to be neither check- ed nor diverted. But at last the summer passed and the sunlight grew slant and pale, and the maples tinged the slopes with red, and the golden- rod shone yellow by the` waysides and lled the long valley with ame. And because the year was dying and the old _things were passing away, the young man grew lonely and came once more in the afternoon stillness to the creek-side near the spring. This time he bore no rod, and made no excuses---not even to himse1f-for his coming. And then! about the girl who came, meeting him. there. When he looked at her he forgot all his shyness and awk- wardness and went to her holding `out his arms. ; A 3 H10 Vvlv luau u n A n o -an Won t you come to me, Annie? ,he called. "Won't you come now? The girl drew back a pace. John, she remonstrated, John! But he-. did not heed, scarcely had he even heard. The slanting light had tran-sgured her, and he could not give her up now. With a swift step he reached her side and caught herhands in his own. I love you, `Annie/ he whispered, passionately; will you come, dearie-yvill you come? - -an . 1 .7 `_l \-vgo-V 5 Almost forcibly he drew her to him, and she, resisting no longer, Let her dark lashes droop and hid her face against his'arm. John, she whisperd, John. The words were the same as before, but the intona- tionhad told `him all. - l.I\Jl| luau I-\.an\. nnnnn - ---- Then, on the hillside above them la leafy bush quivered, and Bill Nix- on, his heart beatihg ercely, parted the obscuring foliage to see clearly, if he might, who this man was who had come `to steal away his child. uuu uvo-.u -V - um..- -.._. - -_. -7 _ Hains! . "he muttered. -`pun `Hain-s, just like` `I kiiowed itwould be._ An yet_ I _cOuldn t be`}ievAe-I had to just se'e"1t r_nyself."'. ' -A _ .` White-lipped and quivering the old man loosed his hold upon the branch- es, and they fell back into place, -H_i_s breath came in gasps, anda spasm, half of passion; half of pain, distort- ed the muscles of his face. He did not wish to give his datighter up-`-`- _he had fought. .-out that battle with himself. V. But to avHains--.! "The heighboui-sf had hinted to. hiin' of this, T `but even invthe face'o`f that evidence he had forged -`hirn_sel`f _toV disbelieve. ` 'I".l"_ _-..L..A.' ;L'.., I ..... .~ .....I' fhxslin .`------- ---- ----- ,"No. . he heaxjd her say, hopeless- ly. We ecan t'tel1 him. `He wot.11dn_ t undex-'stand- . e Somehow, there was a tremulous break in her voice, and the listener was strangely moved. ' A11-\ . 001- ~qO. Q Yes. she ,mm:, Au,_r;e'd. `' Yes, ' john ; . .' `I I `} .` ` ` --*but;`Dad :':_'-., ; V .~ N" '`c., v.` dun - `I He pzirteid tlie lVea\_res"a1;<'A1"I;`)Bi< <:A down again: Annie was -leaning ,.against .the man s arm now. ` 1517 n u 1 ,1 |,-, ____ L_.>-I_V_..' ,_ '~I`"h'_ I-;11ar~1' turned L stu1_ni)1igIy., 1 1gvait_m_g to `hear more, " Qver h`_irn; 111nsvfjh!?y an` .L*r=8htn12s m`r'Bzut jrou 1l` go with %n{e'?` ihte}fup VtVed ._Vthe _man.` '- ` THE BATTLE. hinyai very great `change had come. She was about 't'oa1eav'e him. What. could -hedo, poor doddering old man! that he was, -to prevent her ?--and "she. was an that life had` left to him. `er had looked up to him, so the childi How like `her mother s eyes were hers, and Just as long ago her moth- was now looking up to_John. - . o `In such wise the memory of his! `own youth came upon him and soft-; seemed` to him that he stood alone. ened him. Reaching the brow of the hill, he crossed the fence and the` elds, and came with lagging foot-I steps to a iittle plot shadowed by, tall, straight ~maple` trees, and set! with smooth white stones. Not of- ten did he tum aside here, butnow, he was old and troubled, and it