of sufficient elegance to board the preceptor of the academy. All the Lyceum lecturers stopped at Colonel Lunt's; and Mrs. Lunt was the person wh

and scandal in a different social condition is pure, kindly interest in Barton. We know everybody, and his father and mother. Of course each person has his standing as inevitable and decided as an English nobleman's. Our social organization is perfect. Our circles are within and within each other, until we come to the crème de la crème of the Lunts and six other families. The outer circle is quite extensive, embracing all the personable young men "who are not embarrassed with antecedents," as one of our number said. The inner one takes in some graduates of college,-persons who read all the new books, and give a tone to Barton. Among the best people are the Elliotts and Robertses. The lawyers and shopkeepers come in of course, but not quite of course-anywhere but in Barton-is included the barber. But Mr. Roberts was a

, in my time, Boston millionnaires, state secretaries, statesmen, and missionaries,-of the last, not a few. Once the

after the domestic interests of all Barton; but I think going to Boston several times a year tends to enlarge the mind, and gives us more subjects of conversation. We are quite up in the sculpture at Mount Auburn, and have our preferences for Bierstadt and Weber. Nobody in Barton, so far, i

ears ago on the Fourth of July. When a proof of it was required from the pocket, on the occasion bef

st touching "appeal to the women of Barton," and described "the majestic desolation of the spot where the remains of Washington lie in cold neglect," and asked each one for a he

They are afraid of slavery there. They are afraid of this, that, and the other; but give they will not." He handed me a dollar, in a hopeless way, which was a four-hundredth of his income. The blacksmith's wife would not admit me at all, saying, "There has been one beggar here already this morning!" The butcher's wife gave five cents; but I had my doubts about accepting it, for while I was indignantly relating the desolate condition of the home and tomb of the Father of his Country, and something about its being a spot

to live for. They have learned to hold up the old flag through thunderings and blood, and to die for it joyfully. What

to Percy." It was the very thing I had not been,-had not felt it possible to be. But, conscience-stricken, I went up to call at Colonel Lunt's, and read our l

ound of distant water. The long lingering of the sun slanted over Percy's brow, as she sat leaning her head on her hand, and looking away off, as if over thousands of miles. Her pretty pale fingers were purpl

was full of thought and anxiety, and I supp

you so?" said she softl

Percy? you

has seemed to me y

t she was at my feet, and took my hand with a humble sweet

o so, for I did not at all like this attitude we had assumed of penitent and confessor. "I can't expect you to be just to me, dear Aunti

at her agitation and the tears that

a voice so low that I

Percy Lunt! Wh

must tell you this: and then-you would understand how I might have been, as I was, so wholly preoccupied with my own feelings and interests as never to guess that Robert's was anything but the regard of a fr

ears with hers. "I have been cruel and hard-hearted to you

hat is why I felt th

anything further,-

ore keenly alive to her distress, I saw the deep pain in her pale face, and the unnatural look of grief in one so young. Sh

at least, of my sad story; and even if he is not willing, I th

kissing the poor, pale lips with such tender pi