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Mark was in no haste to retire, and when Uncle Ephraim offered to conduct him to his roo, as he turned to Helen: "Please let me stay until Miss Lennox finishes her socks There are several pairs yet undarned I will not detain you, though," he continued, bowing to Uncle Ephraim, who, a little uncertain what to do, finally departed, as did Aunt Hannah and his sister, leaving Helen and her mother to entertain Mark Ray It had been Mrs Lennox's first intention to retire also, but a look from Helen detained her, and she sat down by that basket of socks, while Mark wished her away Still it was proper for her to re her, as he knew she did A while they talked of Katy and New York, Mark laboring to convince Helen that its people were not all heartless and fickle, and at last citing his mother as an instance

"You would like mother, Miss Lennox I hope you will know her soetting that Mark was city bred in the interest hich she listened to hiirl who appreciated and understood his views al there before hiarb, with no orna face turned so fully toward him

"Mark Ray is not like Wilford Ca eleven she bade hiht and went up to her room "But of course in his heart he feels above us all," and opening hershe leaned her hot cheek against the wet caseht, now so beautiful and clear, for the rain was over, and up in the heavens the bright stars were shining, each one bearing soht with his excite thus fro which, once born, can never be quite forgotten

Helen did not recognize the feeling, for it was a strange one to her She was only conscious of a sensation half pleasurable, half sad, of which Mark Ray had been the cause, and which she tried in vain to put aside, wondering what he thought of them all, and if he did not secretly despise the hi of desolation such as she had never experienced before, a shrinking fro all her life in Silverton, as she fully expected to do, and laying her head upon the little stand, she cried passionately