Aikenside

of the building, followed by the square-boxed wagon containing Grandpa Markham, who, bewildered by the beauty and spaciousness of the grounds, and wholly uncertain as to wh

ropped the bit of salsify she was scraping, and hurrying to the door, called out: "I say, you, sir, what made

n's, I'm sorry, but a little rain will fetch it right," grandpa said,

sensitive as to her age, and the same census-taker would never venture twice within her precincts. Glancing at her dress, which was this leisure afternoon much smarter than usual, grandpa concluded she could not be a servant; and as she seemed to have a right to say where he should drive and where he should not, the meek old man concluded

ran'marm!" and Mrs. Noah bit off the last syllable spitefully. "Ble

he failed to see the point, but knew

am; I was sure you was

man believe her a lady of the Remington order, she did not

n tell you he is not at home, w

a exclaimed, and in his voice there was so much genuin

ady his stepmother. Perhaps you might tell you

for such as me." He did look cold and blue, Mrs. Noah thought, and she bade him come in, feeling a very little contempt for the old-

eated before the fire, "maybe you could tell whether he would be li

o one could associate an insult with him. He did not know anything. That was the solution of his audacity, and pityingly, as she would have

his lip when she had finished. "I wish I'd knew it; I left my granddarte

as no three hundred dollars to throw away

man replied, in his most conciliatory manner, as

y, too, he said, as he arose: "I'm an old man, lady, old enough to be your father." Here Mrs. Noah's face grew brighter, and she listened attentively while he continued: "You won't take what I say amiss, I'm sure. I have a little girl at home, a grandchild, who has heard big sto

w in the best of moods, for, except her cup of green tea with raspberry

for a time he stood perfectly bewildered. It was his first introduction to rosewood, velve

ispered, advancing a step or two, and setting

of so much elegance, and why Mrs. Noah did not turn him out! Then mentally asking forgiveness for this flash of pride, and determined to make amends, he

of the camlet cloak, and Grandpa Markham's fa

sidewise at Mrs. Noah, who had witnessed the blunder, a

oah fully appreciated. He saw the silk chairs, slyly touching one to see if it did feel like the gored, peach-blossom dress worn by his wife forty-two years ago that very spring. Then h

me considerable to the happiness of a young girl, who wouldn't disg

iously, and led him to the yard, w

omment, as, after seeing him safe out of her yard, she

ined to speak with Guy, reined his horse a little nearer, raising his hand in token that the negro should stop. As a natural consequence, the wheels of the two vehicles became interlocked, and as the powerful grays were more than a match for Sorrel, the front wheel of Grandpa Markham's wagon was wrenched off, and the old man precipitated to the ground; which, fortunately for him, was in that locality covered with sand bank

damaged, while he ran to the old man, who had recovered from the first shock and was trying to extricate himself from the folds of his camle

ely, as if he well knew his name carried weight with it;

, brushing the dust from his pantaloons and then involuntarily grasping Guy's arm for

ely, as he gazed pityingly upon the shaky old cr

and sprigs like him think they've a right to make fun o

in the carriage and partially drawing her veil over her face as she glanced at Grand

You have been to Ai

and I didn't know nobody as likely to have it as you. That woman up to your house said she knowed you wouldn't

d only the previous week lost a small amount loaned under similar circumstances. Standing silent for a moment, while he buried and reburied his shining patent leather boots in the hills of sand, he said at last: "Candidly, sir, I don't believe I can accommodate

his hair blowing in the April wind. "There's a stream of water on it, and he says

and as the latter had not told him, he naturally concluded it a much

saying I've changed my mind, and shall not let him have the money. Perhaps, then, he

ed of mercy done years ago." So Guy never suspected that the old man before him had once laid his sire under a debt of gratitude. The more he reflected the less inclined he was to lend the money, and as grandpa was too timid to urge his needs, the result wa

as so sure," grandpa whispered, as he stopped be

he bent himself to comfort the poor child, who, leaning her throbbing head against his shoulder, sobbed bit