Coniston, Complete

ew that he had a rival. Moses would as soon have questioned the seasons or the weather as Cynthia's changes of moods,-which were indeed the weather for him, and when storms came he sat with

uds floated among the spruces on the mountain and the rain beat on the shingles. During the still days before the turn of the year,-days of bending fruit boug

rble. Isaac D. Worthington, indeed, might by a stretch of the imagination be called the pioneer of all the genus to be k

his own labor-was unheard of. It is said that when the stage from over Truro Gap arrived in Brampton Street a hundred eyes gazed at him unseen, from various ambushes, and followed him up the walk to Si

sufficient here, they were cut in such a way, and Mr. Worthington was downright distinguished-looking under his gray beaver. Why had he come to Brampton? demanded Deacon

own that a petticoat did not make Isaac Worthington even turn his head. Curiosity centred on Silas Wheelock's barn, where Mr. Worthington had fitted up a shop, and, presently various strange models of contrivances began to take shape there. W

rops shone like jewels on the coat of a young man who stood looking in at the tannery door. Young Jake Wheeler, son of the village spendthrift, was driving a lean white horse round in a ring: to the horse was attached a beam, and on th

t natural. Jethro had begun to sweep the finer pieces of bark tow

a woollen cap of Brampton make. Even then, despite his wavy hair and delicate appearance, Isaac Worthington had th

, isn't it?" remar

to break the silence that followe

ess in these parts?" essa

aid Jethro. "T-thin

If I were," he added, "I'd put in new mach

inery would you pu

ll interest you. All New Englanders

was it y

e the Merrimac, I had the opportunity to inspect the new steam-boiler, the falling-mill, the splitting machine, and oth

might, and then again they

d the man of leisur

h you know

ken. On the other hand, Mr. Worthington displayed a knowledge of the falling-mill and splitting-machine and the process of tanneries in general that was surprising. Jet

thers had had this same feeling with Jethro, even the minister; but the man

e in Brampton-be

ving the

to set up a m

fairly leaped of

ou say that?"

thro, starting to shov

nutes a cherished and well-hidden ambition which Brampton had not discovered in a month (and did not discover for ma

a lean-to. Just then, heralded by a brightening of the western sky, a girl appeared down the road, her head bent a little as in thought, and if she saw the gr

e minister's dau

uired Mr. Worthington, little thinkin

to the Social Library, to git books. She kno

nister live?" aske

eeting-house. The visitor gave a short glance at it, swung around and gave a longer glance at the figure disappearing in the other directio

and see me," he said. "You'll

none, and he started off down the Brampt

y, "and Speedy Bates says he never looks at w

f sight of Jethro, Mr. Worthington quickened his steps, passed the store, where he was remarked by two of Jonah's customers, and his blood leaped when he saw the girl in front of him, walking faster now. Yes

esy. Mr. Worthington stopped in his tracks, and it was some time befor

y name!" he

ce. To tell the truth," she added, "those are the boundaries of my world." And Mr.

a," he responded gallantly, "I sho

e said; "I don'

ld never be content to be a little anything. So he had been jud

elieve me?" he a

r. Worthington, has ve

inct is fortified by learning, since Miss Penniman tells m

ure of your character," sh

my fortune?"

uaintance," she replied.

pton," he cried, "I-I ha

thington pursued his way to Brampton by the road,-his thoughts that evening not on waterfalls or machinery. As for Cynthia'

hour later, indeed, Coniston was discussing the man of leisure in a new light. It was possible that Cynthia might take him, and Deacon

had a purpose in talking to Mr. Worthington, besides the pleasure it gave her. And the next Saturday, when she r

little plot, gabled houses of that simple, graceful architecture of our forefathers. Some of these had fluted pilasters and cornices, the envy of many a modern architect, and fan-shaped windows in dormer and doorway.

here Cynthia hitched her horse, gave greeting to Mr. Ezra Graves and others who paused, and, before she was fairly in the door, was clasped in Miss Lucretia's arms. There were ne

's early." And she went to the door. Cynthia thought it was

Have you read the Last

m turn scarlet, and he scarcely heard Miss Lucretia offering to discuss the whole range of letters. Enter Mr. Worthington, bows profoundly to Miss Lucretia's guest, his beaver in his hand, and the discussion begins, Cynthia taking no part in it. Strangely enough, Mr. Worthington's remarks on American Indian

niston again, next

rgetic man!"

have my for

, "up and down Coniston Water. I shall begin to t

oniston Water for that reas

d as to ask the re

woman, if their interests are engaged. With a bas-relief of Isaac Worthington in the town library to-day (his ow

r, his face illumined by his

ich will be the best of its kind. If I gain money, it will not be to hoard it or to waste it. I s

eny that these were

hall succeed. And that is why I walk on Conis

feel that the responsibility you r

in whom I would rat

Brampton, Harwich, and Conis

hington

r fellow was in the shed shovelling bark. I tried to get him to talk, and told him about some new tanning machinery I had seen. Suddenly he turned on me and

ne from her eyes. What had happened to make her

my father's sup

ed and disconcerted

come to Conis

e glad to see you, Mr. Wo

orse and essaye

big book," he said. "Ma

silence. It was the "Lif