Opening a Chestnut Burr

g with not a trace of his softened feelings. Indeed, because of pride, or for some reason, he chose t

eems to relax. Days that rightfully belong to spring drop down upon us with birds that have

a cold, finished man of the world, and the gloom of the early morning rested on his f

ite some letters, as he said, she rema

oke of Mr. Hunting. They evidently are acquainted and no

rom business, perhaps," s

me of his fast ways," Annie continued, emphatically, "and they h

ts," her father replied. "It is more probable that Gregory has borrowed money of Hunting, and bee

silent in regard to him while Mr. Gregory is with us, for I never saw such bitter enmity expressed in any face. It is well that Charles is to be absent for some time, a

friend, his father. But remember what you said last night. It may be that he

y with much pleasure. Still, if there should be any such re

ers and then paced restle

that takes hold of my attention and awakens my interest? I wish to go downstairs now, and talk to her, an

so sure of that. If I were dealing with a man I could, but one must be worse than a clod to hear her sing and not feel. I suppose I made a weak fool of myself before them all last night, and they thought I was on the eve of conversion. I half wish I were, or on the eve of anything els

exist only in moral stories, and I've met but few even there. I will solve her mystery. Probably it is not a very deep one, and after a d

oom where they had their school, exclaiming, "Oh

e, and I will read you a fairy story, and then y

the fairy story a

om your imprisonment to accept of such solace. But if you can wait till I h

how a fairy story sounds once

to us some time in the fut

shall ever outgrow S

stand how it is possible. As yet I

to believe what you

"You men have a general faith that there will be dinner at two o'clock, though you understand very little how it comes to pass, and if you are

the hall, and she has stirred me and set my nerve

Each of the children called for a story

nly to yield to the least and weakest

an amusing assumption of dignity said, "

;" which Susie promptly did with a touch of the womanly grace which

an, listen!" and their round eyes

ught glimpses of when a boy, but since had lost hopelessly. She carried the children away into fairy-land. She

ed and the children had drawn sighs of intense relief at the happy denouemen

t hear it

. But you appeared li

ent meaning between the lines, and I suppo

een the lines of this fairy t

ague and indefinite for words, I fear. But if you will r

nnie, "and remember you are nearer heaven up there,

ungsters' heads with be

are not so very far ap

ll where one leaves of

s

n't

e to contrad

e, and I suppose it is m

f principle and h

has not very m

fortune, and, I suppose

misfortune, Miss Walton,

ake your

it entire

ay. I will select something li

no mood for his deliberate

g. His style flows

s too sen

then, will form

ne with explanati

inty idylls will suit

is affected, stilte

hen; you regard

e think, and I

ers, the latest magazin

wth. They will soon kindle kit

a solid, venerable sound. Or, if you prefer poetry, I will get Gray's 'Elegy.' That cannot be a literary mushroom, for he was twen

alton. Why don't you assert plainl

uld you li

in our language would weary me. I am possessed by the evil spirits of ennui, unrest, and disgust at myself

ill you put yourself absol

your s

ith a large afghan. "You must take a horizont

prescribing an

ary. But permit me to suggest that in view of your pledge

d he threw hims

n over you;" and she did so with a little touch of d

th soothed an

d woman's gentle care and ministry; and Annie Walton had a power possessed by few

she replied, "makes

irritably; "deliver me f

od, "I'm a church sister; so don't drive me

join your church that

excommunicated within a month.

at me after I had

ay I would make you sleep. Hush; no

oss it. The wind moaned and soughed around the angles of the house, and the rain beat against the glass. All without seemed emblematic of himself. But now he had a brief but blessed sense of shelter from both the storm and h

, she would not show herself a true daughter of Eve? I must find out, for it is about the only remaining question that interests me. If she is like the rest of us-if she is a female Hunting-then good-by to all hope. I shall not live to find anybody o