The Old Stone House

t and early, what shal

entered the

ill be so hot pretty soon that we can't do anything,-and Hugh's going to New York in the fall,-and Sibyl's going to Sara

ade out a strong case

resist such a mou

reasonable," said Aunt Faith, smil

" said Gem

in old feathers and things, and call themselves kings and queens! For my part,

took the last-named

ie Chase was the Princess, and she looked perfectly be

pted Tom; "fuss and fea

n't I? and that's the v

and over again, becau

from the clothes-line

eny that, G

ber it very well; an inundation, where all the company in clothes-baskets,

Fish standing in the middle of the room; the second and last was audible, but not visible, consisting merel

nly have to look on," said Tom; "but I am tire

may, "if tableaux are old, p

m; "I never went to but one picnic in my life, and then

forks, to be sent out from a crockery store, in order to save trouble; and when I reached the Point in my fresh, white dress, there they were in crates, covered with straw, just as they stood in the warehouse. The guests were expected in half an hour. I was one of the managers, and, after standi

out on the lake shore four or five years ago. We no sooner got there, than all the boys disappeared as if by magic, and we had to do all the work, make the fire, draw the water, and cook

red bread, and drink muddy coffee; clear everything up, and ruin your clothes with grease-spots, wristbands hopelessly gone; sit down again under a tree, to hear the young lady you don't like read poetry, while the one you do like goes off before your very eyes with your rival; devoured by mosquitoes, gnats and spiders; ice melted and water tepid; another fire to make, more bad coffee, more grease spots,

he ears of the returned volunteers, and I happened to be present when one of them, Lieutenant John Romer, expressed his opinion. 'See here, Katie,' said he to his sister, 'I understand that you young ladies are getting up a picnic to welcome us back

his relatives, the first thing they did was to get up a ride into the country for him," said Hugh lau

mpatiently, "what has become o

y insist upon it?" sa

d the B. B.'s must

the family in a choru

o the woods with a set

l so," sa

rry enough for the

y," said Aunt Faith; "something might

in; they take to the water

ive way. "Well," he said, after a pause, "never min

annot go to-day

e the present. I'll agree to do all the

into the sun-shine with a fo

we have?" s

id Aunt Faith; "I know that clergym

and she made no furthe

pose that we do not start until after dinner; we will have a t

as the others liked it, he yielded, and

ssie; "if we once begin discussing it, we shall

ll we go?"

suggested

s go somewhere ever so far away, so that we shal

ver the invitations which Aunt Faith had wisely confined to the immediate neighbor-hood. Mr. Leslie was the only one who lived at some distance, and immediately after the early dinner, Hugh drove over and brought back, as he said, "vi et armis." "Here is Mr. Leslie, Aunt Faith," he called,

e proceedings with amused interest. "Surely we do not need all that coffee, Mrs. Sheldon," he said, as Aunt

ill not be enough," replie

ou keep stores for an arm

. But, with all my efforts, I have no

f cold tongue? Do we, then, turn into gorman

of fresh cake in a long basket. "I, for one, am always ravenous; I

clergyman at the table. He rose and offered his hand, as he said, "Good-morning, Miss Warrington

. He took the lead, and never seemed to have a doubt but that she would follow, and, when he was present, Sibyl generally did follow; it was only when he was absent that the wide difference in the motives which actuated their lives became clearly visible, and Aunt Faith saw worldliness on one si

sembled on the front piazza to wait for the expected g

shall have Edith Chase

and Graham Marr, Mr. G

of the B. B.'

e: "so much the better. He will

Aunt Faith; "the two wa

. "Miss Bessie is laughing at the idea of a possible break down," he said: "but for m

h on the list?" said Bessie, as Sibyl and

ewhat unjust to him, Bessie;

ou be so kind as to entertain him wh

king up, "Bess is ge

ow do you do, Rose? You are the first

between your eyes that betokens something vexatio

e, in a low tone as Aunt Faith went

ing?" excl

urse he will not decline when c

ll is in question,"

e. I am vexed in e

having a little fun

ou can extract it f

it." The two girls walked away, and Aunt Faith was left alone to welcome the guests as th

nt Faith; "I will tell Hugh to

riumph. Slowly the equipage came round the house and drew up in front of the piazza, it was a circus band-wagon, gayly painted, and dra

nt Faith, "Four horses! I shall

e spectacles of ourselves in that w

n a four-in-hand over and over again, so you need not feel alarmed. And, as

West is a country of new sensations. I

sie, that wilful young lady took the very last seat at the extreme end of the wagon, and devoted her entire attention to Mr. Walter Hart. The provisions had been sent out in a cart some time previously, and the merry party laughed and talked all the way to Mossy Pond, amused

e headland was bold, rugged and treeless, commanding a fine view of the water, but back in the glen the shade was dense, and there was a faint spicy odor in the air, coming from the cedars, a rare tree on the fresh-water seas. Altogether it was a wild, secluded spot, and but few of the company had ever visited it, so that the charm of novelty w

obliged to unharness them and fasten them as well as they could to the trees, not without misgivings as to the result; but the blacks and bays

tracting severe labor from unwilling young men, and we have resolved to convince you of your error. This, sir, is a strong-minded picnic; w

sat all the gentlemen

, Walter Hart, William

joined the band. "When

ns, Miss Sax

em off now. Don't y

lank!" s

d, sir, that we are no longer down-trodden," said Rose,

e to know it," said Hugh. "For my part I feel quite sorry for the ten

and out, disappeared as if by magic, all save the sturdy Balmorals of Gem

y were going to make coffee, and such coffee. The supper was to be altogether u

laimed Rose, as the first flame

gh, as the fickle blaze vanished, and R

esh newspapers. A match,-another blaze,-another cry of exultati

stinate pile. More newspapers, more flames, more smoke, ending in

." So saying, Hugh rearranged the fuel, while Rose coughed, Edith furtively rubbed her dress, and Bessie bound up her burned hand in her handkerchief. At this moment Sibyl came into view, carryin

in her hand. Will Mount and Walter Hart understood this duty, while Gideon Fish a

hat the gentlemen are doing the

fire with a scarlet face: "did I not pre

hs of wild flowers. There was a general exclamation of dismay as the curly back of the old depredator was seen through

out with Jones and the cart; they might be of

mean to say all

h,-for, as Tom said, "Pete was a truly gentlemanly dog,"-Pete sat upon his hind legs with fore paws drooping on his breast, eying the company gravely

st dog I ever s

ish. My line was too slender to haul him up, and I was considering what to do when, much to my astonishment, Pete jumped over,

rting, I shut him up in the carriage-house and fastened the door. I looked back several times but saw nothing of Pete, and was congratulating myself upon the success of my plan, when, just before I reached the church, at the corner of Huron and South Streets, there he was waiting for me. He had escaped, gone down to

cream sour; there was an abundance of cake, the coffee was s

r for your coffee, Mr.

poured out Hug

please," sai

u neglect my cup any lo

rate; I shall be ob

interrup

Rose Saxon; "and, by the way, Mr. Warrington, w

ghtly," said Hugh; "it is either c

hink Walter Scott's Rock-a-by was a 'sweet thing.' At first I supposed she was alluding to some cradl

led myself with the nam

re was a book publish

t but I never dared t

really astonishing. The favorite letter, now is 'Y.' They have 'y's' in the most unexpected pl

his pocket. "Miss Warrington," he said, in his slow way, "I have brought out a new po

herself on a heap of shawls, and looking at langu

een kind enough to take an interest in Margaret Brown, and I know you will like to help her through the summer. The warm weather is telling on her strength; she has not been abl

t Faith; "I consider it a precious oppo

. Aunt Faith looked towards the rock and caught the smil

ibyl," she said gravel

s much occupied wit

Leslie; "I was not aware of

Aunt Faith. "I shall miss her, but I must make up my mind to losing her before long. Sibyl is very fond of fashionable

and stood leaning against a tree. "Mrs. Sheldon," he said,

ou mean, M

aratoga," replied the clergyman,

now Sibyl so well, I should be inclined to think Mr. Leslie was right. If any one c

in the glen by the brook. Gideon Fish after gorging

-mates happened to meet at our house last summer, we were sitting on the piazza talking together, and all unwittingly we got so deep down among the ponderous mysteries of psychology; so wrought with the mighty thoughts evolved from our own brains;

eason is in no danger of any such overthrow. I

ours did that afternoon," replied Gideon. "Miss Darrell, I see a delicate li

shortly; "I don't

l cross over, and, after some persuasion, she succeeded in getting the whole party across the brook. Then she lured them on slowly, turning here and there, until she caught the sound of voices. "Hush!" she said, "what is that?" They all stopped, and distinctly heard Rose Saxon's voice, somewhat louder than usual, coming from behind some high bushes. "No, Mr. Fish!" she said, emphatically,

ok at the company and then turned and retreated down the glen; when he was out of hearing, the two girls ran away into the wood to indulge in a hearty laugh. They made no confessions to the others, but every one suspected the truth, and when poor Gideon returned to take them aside, one by one, and assure them that he had "no idea what

ice. Don't try to back out of it now. We all heard you; and we all feel for you. Miss Sa

t of such a thing,-it is all a mistak

"You thought she liked you and she didn't. I

ndered about looking half-angry, half-perplexed; he almos

sion, I fear," whispered Bessie to Rose; "he will have no tro

round game. "It is very dark," said Aunt Faith, looking up th

e young people started down the glen, followed by the rest of the party at

leaden gray, and out in the west a white streak followed by a black line told of the approaching squall. In the south, and east, the sky was

said Hugh, "and c

thunder!" said Edith Chase, tu

ore?" said Aunt Faith, in dismay; "i

en minutes. That is what I mean when I call the we

ter with an uneasy expression in his face; "I don't think much of the

ouse near by, Hugh?

use it was so solitary, you remember;

pidly, before the storm reaches us?" s

e time to harness the horses, and besides, the house is

as the sullen water began to break wit

let us go back to the woods; we will make the best shelter we can for yo

all the beautiful wreaths we ma

revent the show,"

k," said Rose Saxon, as the party

is idyl,"

ot correct.

chatters,

ur nerves

talk, or

puns on

v

ns on f

known air as she sprang over t

e, collecting the shawls and water-proof cloaks; "the foliage of the beech is very thick, and the rock will

Leslie?" said Sibyl, de

said Hugh, "and c

ining here under the trees," said Graham Ma

from the lightning," replied Mr. Leslie, breaking down branches

nding tied to the trees, but they looked uneasy, and one of the leaders pawed the ground restlessly. "I shall have to stay here with them," thought Hugh, "or they may break away when

the dexterity of an Indian as Hugh threw it down; "go back

kground; this was thatched with bushes, and the shawls and cloaks spread over the whole as the first m

id Aunt Faith; "you can h

ide the wigwam, Aunt F

Powers, Bessie, An

the gentlemen, too," said

all be together," said Graha

aside a cloak that formed part o

d cave up here; it holds Jim and me fi

. Sheldon," said Mr. Leslie, looking up and laughing to see the 's

inside, Mr. Mount

horses; you had better come too, Walt

I hope?" said Rose Saxon, peepi

a July shower. But I insist upon Mr. Gay's going inside. The 'Boston man' will now have an opportunity; he ca

then intense and almost continuous lightning, followed by heavy rol

ents affects my nerve

ose side he

coldly; "I was not aw

. In spite of the foliage, the wet began to penetrate the wigwam; Sibyl, who sat on the

on," said Mr. Leslie, stooping

Sibyl; "you need

d her, and Mr. Leslie was gon

e fury of the storm was over, b

, coming to the wigwam entrance; "I have been down to the la

said Aunt Faith;

said Mr. Leslie, lo

ever get home?"

said Mr. Gay; "it will be very unpleasant to

pe they will be quiet. That black was inc

n the plateau; the horses are ready, and the sooner we start the better, as more b

xclaimed Aunt Faith, as she emerged

s it," he replied;

ie," said Sibyl, step

yman in a low tone. "It gives me

Marr, peeping out from the sheltering branches; "don't y

us away, Graham," s

n our true colors," whispered Bessie to Lida Pow

of goods," answered Lida; "high co

l fell with the persistence that betokens what farmers call a "steady soaker." Edith Chase sat with Aunt Faith at the re

e them, Hugh?" she whispere

ng; besides, they had never been driven four-in-hand before, and they had their doubts as to what the bays were doing beh

h Chase, "we sha

ing road grew invisible before them. After several more miles a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder startled the party, the leaders veered round again, jumping violently, and carrying the wagon perilously near the gully. William Mount and Wa

aunt," said Gem, wh

ase, climbing down with alacrit

There is no danger, Aunt Faith; do get in again. The h

lash of lightning revealed the plunging leaders w

walk," said Graham Mar

king, it is our duty to accompany them,"

r. Gay, "if you will w

be happy to help you

y where I am; I am not at a

ugh drove very slowly so as to keep near them, and, in the darkness, Bessie climbed up on th

With you!" ex

s uncovered shoulders. They talked earnestly together in low tones all the way, and when at last the lights of Westerton appeared in the darkness ahead, and the pedestrians, emboldened by these signs of civilization, took their

attack of dumb-ague," sa

leaders with intent gaze; as they approached the old stone house she he

fee after the exposure," said Aunt Faith, as, one by o

think we had better

Pow

Edith Chase, "but we really must

Mr. Gay, "but my seventy years r

you come in, I will say 'good-night' to all of you," she said, closing the gate and turning away. "I couldn't help it, Aunt Faith," she whispered, as they went up the walk; "Gideon wanted some of your coffee, but we have had enough of him for one day, I think." Mr. Leslie, however, put on hi

bright and early,' Tom?" said Aunt Faith, reme

gloria Monday

Mr. Leslie, laughing