Jane Lends A Hand

vast sigh, beheld Jane, standing and smilin

you ever come to call on me? I've missed you," he said, taking he

ed; then her eyes twinkled. "That was Paul," she said. "You

le in her eyes that told Mr. Sher

lared with fervor; and t

an of Dolly,

was

up with Amel

s Hartshorn very agreeable," replied M

gged her

and leave you with one partner for the rest of the dance. And then you

xpression and then a burst of half-sh

r our conversation ver

out it quite often-that is, abo

u seem to take great in

at you think I'm an awful busybody, too. W

never before met any youngster who a

sure to bear on-er-Paul that he inter

wered Jane

t easy to make peop

ul." Then after a short pause, she added, "I'm awfully

hink I needed

you were

uggesting that he get some refreshments, and to

ou about?" she inquired casually, when s

young lady in the

tty, isn't she? Would yo

y I haven't had

f you like," interrupted Jane, pu

h a touch of wariness. But her face was innocence it

; and Jane sedately performed the ceremony of introduction. Then, well-satisfied with her accomplishment, and feeling that sh

hing, Lily pretended to be enjoying the conversation of the Webster boys a little more t

e, and for some reason this made her a little bit afraid of him; or, perhaps afraid of herself. Usually the least self-conscious person in the world, she now found herself filled with misgivings about herself. She was afraid that there were numberless shortcomings about her of which she was unaware, but which he would not fail to notice; and this thought stung her pride. Furthermore

eel unlike herself, and gave her some of the self-confidence that she lacked by nature. Indeed, the pretty senorita was altogether quite a different person, fr

is expression of bewilderment and polite surprise gave her a satisfaction that was not unmixed with regret and displeasure at herself. At length, when the music started up again, he asked her to dance. By this time, his manner had grown a little cold and formal, and Lily was piqued. So, with a little shake of her head, she told him that

to meditate on the irritating vagaries of the feminine gender. Lily'

eemed so gentle and unspoiled and kind. Hang it, there's no way of und

r two, he told h

t to dance with me, I cer

and talked pleasantly to Mrs. Webster for twenty minutes or so, and then joined his host

lia, and possessed by a deep sense of injury, had climbed up again to the hayloft, with the double purpo

around at him with an abstracted expression, and then unable to control herself

re! I am sorry! I fo

resh information?" inquired Paul

d you g

you

ngry. Tell me how

t know-I ju

au

y if it was uncouth and all that-but

s hard on

nned unw

things about people-all the other girls who were the least bit pretty. Not plain,

y. And did you jus

bout what she thought about girls nowadays, and then about poetry-you can imagine about how much I had to say to that sort of stuff. And then we pranced around some more, and by

n't!" cried Ja

played dead if necessary. She seemed to swallow the story, bait, line and hook, and was q

nced with Lily at all! He's gone and plopped himse

took his tu

told you you were too young to be meddling with such things. But I guess you'r

lly clever, don't you?

tuition may be all right for women, but

uition?" de

lot of it. Ask her what it is." Then he turned to her with an exasperating grin; he was getting immeasurable satisfaction out

t was time to ch

queer," sh

d Paul, rubbing his nose, "I'

sort of detest

tion for life. The next thing you'll be trying to make m

! That's Mr

s noise. She seems in an awful s

answer. Paul

were going to have a fit." Still Jane did not an

yeing her, "what hav

ing," s

lt. What have you done to that

de rather a mess," Ja

the rescue again. Here I am and here I stay until I go home

idn't

you've grown up-which I doubt very much." Then, seeing that she was really distressed, he patted her han

elp me," said

tell me anyhow. I'm always pr

er sleigh away," said Jane,

u-w

Mrs. Deacon's

fort to guess what earthly designs Jane had had in

cately. "You don't like her moustaches, perhaps? Or perhaps

s not l

lly tired and sleepy, and kept saying that late hours were bad for young and old; and then I said that-that the Deacons weren't going back with him. And he didn't wait a minute. He just got into h

coolest-rascal I ever met in my life. I don't

shall

t kettle-of-fish, just wash your hands of it. Leave it to Providence-and hike for the tall timb

about it. They'll

ing about what'll happen if Mrs. Deacon

is the evil thereof. Sh

and Lily are mad at each

oing to do now?

going

e you are." But Jane was alre

fetti announced the New Year. Jane made her way through the tangles of colored streamers, and the knots of merry

d Mr. Webster. "Come here and watch

the world troubling her peace of mind. When the noise had subsided a little, she looked round and up at Mr. Webster'

gone home, and lef

, glancing furtively at Mr. Sheridan, whose face had suddenly grown rath

t," said Mr. Webster. "I daresay he'll be only to

ar this remark quite distinctly. He looked a

ine, and I-I'd be delighted to take them home." And without giving his host a chan

ile the two Webster boys clamored for the pleasure of putting on her carriage boots, was quite besieged by youn

way deftly and determi

Mrs. Deacon?" He did not look a

sciously grasping that dignified lady's plump foot more tightly, as

t Lily. Would she or would s

for us, we needn't trouble Sam, mam

've got the sleigh already hitched up"-which was not true. He s

ould prevent his taking Lily home-not if he had to sla

here was a warm light in her eye, the peculiar, benevolent beam which enliven

us offer," she said, in the full, bell-like tone of a

ike to do more; meanwhile sending at Lily reproachful looks fit to melt a heart of stone. Lil

d been silent, the same could not be said for her mamma. Even now he seemed to hear the incessant, rich tones of Mrs. Deacon's voice ringing in his ear, as they say the booming of the sea echoes in certain shells. He could not remember whether he had ever

was to tell Peterson to pack up and be ready to pull up their stakes the day after to-morrow. He had been acting like an awful

He was going to go in for farming. He liked the quaint old town, he liked the solid, intelligent, industrious, practical people. He liked Mr. Webster for instance, and Mrs. Webster,

d by, almost buried under books, pamphlets and almanacs which had never been taken down from their shelves since the late Major had been a young and hopeful de

wn at Mr. Tim, and shaking his head slowly. "It can't be that he's go

ply to such propositions. Quite undisturbed, and in the m