"Mrs. Quilliam."

Avould say , for the lAventiefch time , " and he hasn' forgot his auld aunt nayther , but ever since my man died , sends me quarterly what keeps me liko a lady . I have no call to take in lodgers , us you know , Miss Marcia , nor to do naAvtliin' else for my * livin ' . AAV , yis , I understand , bless you , Avith the likes of yon it is different . You arc onl y nice company' for mc ; I ' m not thinkin '* liuwtliin' of the throuble , and glad

enough to oblege yc . He ' s not like them ones that makes their money at the diggin' nayther , inakin' and spendin ' . Evan is uoane of them sort . Its Avith his brains , us you may say , he ' s made his money . Isn' he an engineer with a hundred men under him ? Haven' I got a picture of him taken Avith them , and him lookin' ins' like a Avorkin '

man himself I didn' like it A \* 1 ICH I seen it first , for he had no call to bc dressed like a AA'orkin' man , and I said that Avhen I Avrote . ( I'm thinkin' it AVUSS yourself that A \ -rotc that latter for me , for my schoolin ' is but poor . ) He Avrote back , tho ' , sayin' it Avass only a AA'orkin' man he Avass , for all he was gettin' a mitldlin' rich one . AAV there never Avass a bit of poor pride about Evan , I'll say that for him . "

CHAPTER IV 1 had been nearly a year in my IICAV home when I accepted an invitation to go and see an old friend in England . After being away tAvo months , I AVUS glad to get back to my own rooms and to Nanny * , to Avhom I AVUS till the Avorld . My friend had married a rich man . she AVUS kind and affectionate as ever , but 1 Avas

nothing in her life . She did her best to make my visit pleasant , but I couldn't hel p feeling I Avas of no consequence to her , and that 1 made no one ' s life brighter—had no duties . It was onl y for my OAVU pleasure she had mc , and 1 longed to get back to the humble home , Avhere 1 AVUS first , if it Avas only in one old Avoman ' s affection .

It Avas a bright starlight night " with a touch of frost in the air as I approached the Keroo . How AVOII I remember the scene . Thc AvhifcAvnshcd house , nestling in the dark hill , Avith its Avide porch covered with trailing creepers ; the tall red hollyhocks

standing out against it ; the scent of sweet-briar . A hite monthly rose came against iny face as 1 tried to peep in at the AvindoAV . The curtains hael been drawn and the geraniums in the AvindoAV seat AA * ere outlined on the Avhitc blind . UOAV home-like every place looked ! HOAV glad 1 AVUS to get back !

I had not told Nanny Avium I should return ; knowing that things Avere al \ A * ' ays in order , and Avishing lo give her a pleasant surprise , 1 lifted thc hitch , and in another moment was in the bright warm kitchen .

HOAV AA ' Ibis ? Nanny AVUK not alone ! Who could the man bc AVIIO Avas so much at ease in the kitchen '•* Sonic neighbour doubtless But no , I knew e \* eryone for miles round , anti this Avas a stranger . I had time to examine his appearance , for they AVCI-C talking too earnestly * to notice inc .

A muscular frame , Avith square lieuil ami deeply lined face , large mouth wit 11 heavy jaw . Not an interesting or handsome faceand yet Avhen he looked up and caught sight of me , there AA *; IS such a p leasant g leam in his eyes , that I half changed niy mind . " It ' s Miss Lace , Aunt Anne , " I heard him say . Who could thc

man bc ? 1 had not much longer lo wonder , for Nanny came quickly forward and gavo mc one of her heart y hugs . * ' Well , to think of your coniin' upon us unbcknuwiis like this , and me thinkin' so much of yc nnd Avonderin' Avhen Avould yc be buck . Why didn' ye let ' me know you ' re coniin' for all '*' " ¦ J explained that 1 had meant to give her a pleasant sin-prise .

" And s * i you bev , Miss Marcia , veen , but you see my mind AVUS that took up with Evan coniin' home , that for the time you hail clean gone out of my head . " This somcAvhat chilled mc , thu' Nanny had no such intention .

" Come here , Evan , " she Avent on , as he was leaving the kitchen . "Isn' this yer auld frien ' , Marcia Luce , that yo used to lrt * so fond of ? " Then , turning to mc , " You'll bc mindin' him well enough , I'm thinkin ' , he isn' so much changed , for all he ' s so rich , ami quilo the gentleman . "

"Mrs. Quilliam."

I understood now . This Avas Evan COAVIC , Nanny ' s ncplicAA * , AA'IIO Avent away twenty years ago , the boy I AVCII remembered . As 1 held out my hand , and looked into his face , I could trace sjmc of those boyish features ; but 1 preferred the boy- to the man , I thought . Hc spoke Avith an unpleasant American twang , and his manners Avere as free from embarrassment as if he AA'as a gentleman . There AVUS no reason Avh y they shouldn't be , of course , in his aunt ' s house ; but it AVUS very annoying to find him here inst us T had came back .

_ That I was no longer first in Mrs . Quilliam ' s mind soon became evident . Everything AVUS referred to Evan . Whatever statement I made he had to bc applied to for confirmation . I AVIIO used to be the " la-AV and the prophets " to Nanny ! NOAV it was , " 1 don ' t knoAV in my sinses , Avhat do you think , Evan ? " It was often hard to keep from making some sharp retort , and to elo my best to be friendly .

He took the position quite naturally , and seemed to speak over my head , as it Avere , and to IUIA ' C no consciousness whatever of any difference in our rank . This Avas , doubtless , American independence ! It Avas too late that ni ght for the parlour tiro to be lighted , ancl I soon pleaded fatigue and proposed going to bed . "I know yon ahvays keep my bed aired , Nanny , and I am tired , so 1 Avill say good-night . "

A . blank look came OA'CI * Mrs . Quilliam ' s face , and 1 saw . something AVUS Avrong . " Isn ' t the bed read y r * " I asked . "AAV , vis , to be sure , it iss reedy and cored enough , but there ' s " —glancing at her ncphcAV— " the chile . " " The Avhat j ** " I asked , in umuzcmeiit .

"The 1 il le fal la as Evan has tuk home ! he ' s in yer room , ye sec he wasn' to say strong , " she went on more volubly , " and your room AVUS warm , and so I put him in a cot beside your bed , naver siipposin' you Avould bc coniin' home so soon . " This AVUS very provoking , and I did not answer . My place Avas , indeed , filled !

There AVUS au aAvkward pause , Avhich Avas broken by Evan Cowall saying : — "Jt is easy enough to move him , aunt , Miss Lace need not be disturbed . " I recovered myself then , and Avas ashamed of my irritation . The child can stay Avhere he is , he need not be disturbed to-night , " 1 said .

On reaching my room , accompanied by Mrs . Quilliam , I saw a small delicate-looking child of six l ying asleep in his little crib . Hc had none of the prett y roundness of youth , but Avas thin and pale , Avith a louk of thought beyond his years . His fair hair curling OA * CI * the pillow was the only pretty thing about him .

"lies mortal delicate , the bough ! " . Mrs . Quilliam said ; "Evan tuk pity on him Avhen his father died , and ho bed no ones belongin ' to him , ancl litis hod him since he AVUS two years auld , and is so fond of him , its terrible , for all he ' s naAvtliin' to look at . Its like a fairy cliangcliu' hc is , I ' m sayin '; but , bless yc , Evan doesn't believe in thom things—a Avondcrful kind heart he has , and aver had . "

I . had to sit and listen to a recapitulation of all his virtues , feeling all the time unreasonably provoked . When at last I AVUS left alone , I tried to banish the unwelcome remembrance of the new comers in sleep—but they Avere c \* cn there . 1 was sailing iu a shi p on a stormy sea , in horrible fear , Avhile a

little child clunjj to my skirts . Ei'an Cowall suddenly appeared at the helm— "Shall 1 never get rid of him , " I thought—anil as if I had willed it , he disappeared , anil the ship Avas sinking—sinking . I AVUS struggling in the water Avith the child in my arms , his eyes looking appealing !)* into mine .

I awoke to see the eyes of my dream—large , serious eyes in a small face . If AVUS the little child 1 had seen lust ni ght , standiu" * looking at mc curiously . " Wh *> are you , " he demanded ; " you AVC re not here hut ni ght . Arc you a Manx witch r " 1 AVUS amused , and asked if 1 looked like one . He didn ' t know

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