Princess

s. They were handsome birds of all shades, from lightish red to deep glossy black; the sunlight on their plumage made flashes

great gobblers would pause in their meal, and puff themselves out and spread their tails and throw their crimson heads b

in early spring when she scribbled the date of its arrival on the first egg, until the full-grown birds were handed over to Aunt Rachel to be fattened for the table

lantation in the olden time was worthy of Dandie Dinmont himself. The Sawney in question was a grandson of Aunt Rachel, and an utterly abominable little darkey, inky black, grotesque, and spoiled to a degree. He was devoted to Po

om his unsuspicious hand, and borne away in triumph by the wily bird. Half of feeding time was usually consumed by Sawney in throwing small

atuitous insults to his foe. Pocahontas, having emptied her basket, was watching her flock with interest and admiration, when B

omised the old woman to write to her. It came with my mail this morning, and I haven't time to go over to Shirley and read it to h

sinuatingly you put it. Aunt Vi'let's cabin is way ove

ant to send it by the negroes. I promised Jim we'd look after the old woman for them. The girls want her to

er hand for the lette

Belle or Nina," she sai

homesickness way out i

new people will let

move. He had an understanding with General Smith about the corner of land h

mid the pain and hurry of departure-the sundering of old ties, findi

called after her brother, as h

"I noticed smoke rising from the kitchen chimney this

esolutely following her. The way led along a pleasant country road, as level as a table, which ran, with scarcely a bend, or turning, straight from the Masons' back gate over to the ancient home of the Byrd family at Shirley. Overhead the interlacing branches of oak and magnolia trees made a gorgeous

e in pursuit of a little striped ground squirrel, and soiled her hands and dress, and afterward shook her and Susie because they laughed at her. Nina was always passionate. And over in that meadow, she had once been forced to take refuge in a tree from the hostile demonstrations of an unruly heifer whose calf she had a

suggested possibilities, and its range was infinite. Wits, felons, clergymen, adventurers, millionaires and spendthrifts, all had answered to the unobtrusive cognomen. It was plain and commonplace, but as baffling as a disguise. With Talbot, Meredith, or Percival, the case is different, such nomenclature presupposes gentility. As the name "Percival" crossed the girl's mind in her whimsical musings, her thoughts seized upon it and fitted it instantly to the name which had preceded it, Percival-and Sm

aginings. And so engrossed was she with castle-building, that it was only when she stopped to climb a fence separating t

e fence, balancing his fat body on the top rail as he turned circumspectly in order to scramble down. When the landing had been safely effected, he p

eld; you'd better run home.

," was the va

ate-even if he would go, which was unlikely. It would not do to start him home with the certainty that he would return, the instant her eye was off him, and s

siness to follow me. If the sheep come after us, Sawney, remember that you're not afra

h suspicious readiness, resumi

ully grazing at a little distance, suddenly raised their heads, and advanced with joyful bleating, evidently regarding the pair as ministering spirits come to gratify their

ncouragingly, "the sheep won't hurt you: t

enough to sniff the girl's dress, gazing up at her expectantly, with their soft, pretty eyes; a proceeding which evoked redoubled yells from Sawney. They were perfectly harmless; even the rams were peaceful, which made the child's conduct the more provoking. In vain Pocahontas coaxed, threatened and commanded, in vain she assured him solemnly that the sheep would not hurt him, and acrimoniously that if he did not hush instantly and get up, she would leave him alone for

an be of ser

nger, was standing beside her, glancing, with unconcealed amusement, from

eep away, I'll be much indebted to you. This provoking little boy is afraid of them, or pretends to be, and I can't indu

ed his cane and advanced on the flock menacingly. The animals backed slowly

t deal further; quite to the end of the field. He won

selessly; the poor beasts, convinced at last that disappointment was to be their portion,

o more scenes should be inflicted on her that morning. When she had put a barrier between him and danger, she ordered him to sit down and calm his shattered ne

ure amused him, and he had a mind to pursue it further. As he approached, he removed his hat courteously, with a pleasant, half-jocular remark a

trying to earn a cheap notoriety, but he's almost too little to pretend. He's a troublesome monkey, and if I'd noticed he was following me, I'd have forbidden him. I'm much indebted for your k

he foot, of which he caught a glimpse, was pretty, and well-arched. He would gladly have detained her talking in the pleasant sunshine, or even-as time was no object, a

l, he noticed, without any of the ugly tricks of gait so many women have; firm and upright, with head finely poised, and every movement a curve. Her look and v

y any thing that grated, any thing that was discordant. If "taste is morality," Thorne had claims to be considered as having attained an unusual development. His taste ruled him in most th

ught among them that which, as yet, he had never found-that which he was beg

t, and to cause him to bend his ear and listen. In some subtle way, a difference was established between her and all other women. Her ready acceptance of his aid, her absolute lack of self-

into a laugh as he recalled his own part in the performance. What would Norma have said, could she have be

h in the renovation of Shirley. One of the carpenters, or-as he looked gentlemanly and wore a coat, a fresco man, abroad in search of an original idea for the dining-room ceiling. This idea she had obligingly furnished him, and he would be able to m

more delighted than surprised to learn from him that her surmise had been correct. Berkeley had obtaine