The Doctor

which one could get t

orn bushes, and beyond which stretched on one side fields of grain just heading out this bright June morning, and on the other side a long strip of hay fields of mixed timothy and red cl

ds. On the hither side of the pond an orchard ran down hill to the water's edge, and at the nearer corner of the dam, among a clump of ancient willows, stood the Old Stone Mill, with house attached, and across the mill yard the shed and barn, all neat as a tidy housewife's kitchen. To the left of the mill, with its green turf-clad dam and placid gleaming pond, wandered off green fields of many shading colo

e house. From any point of view the Old Stone Mill, with its dam and pond, its surrounding woods and fields and orchard, made a picture of rare loveliness, and suggestive of deep fulness of peace. At least, the woman standing at the dam, where the shade of the willows fell, found it so. The beauty, the quiet of the scene, rested her; the full sweet harmony of those many voices in which Nature pours forth herself on a summer day, stole

d face softening as she gazed. "It's a bonny s

changed. Through the hum of the mill there

in a few moments the impatience in her face passed into tender pity. "Ah, w

e the door. "Mercy me!" she cried, "it's time my own work was done. But I'll just step in and see-" She opened the door leading to the mill and stood silent. A neat little man with cheery, rosy face, c

ied without stopping his flying finge

usband. "Ay, the mill is workin' indeed,

he cried cheeril

ng and of the dancin

e man exultant. "Sure you're wrong

ed the woman, "

nto his Irish brogue. "Don't you mind-" and on he

But what of it?" she cried, heroically s

mazing in its power of swiftly chang

ber. And it's twenty-four years to-morrow, Elsie, darlin', since-" He sudde

y behind her. "Whisht now! Be quate now, I'm s

ough I've been often since. And," he added with a sigh, "it's not much luck I

over her eloquent face. "What has come to you to-day? Go away now to your work," she added

same suggestion of strength in every line of his body, of power in every move he made and of passion in every glance. "Indeed, you will do no such thing. Dad'll watch the grist and I'll slash down the hay in no time. An

only said in a voice calm and steady, "Well, you'd better

she'll not be going to the raising today, either. The boy'll

smile on his face. "We will have dinner early,"

ile he took down the scythe from its peg, removed t

," he said; "you're be

her, handing him the violin,

er's hands, looking it over reverently. In a very few minutes his father came back with th