Love And Masonry.

Isaac Greenleaf sat out on the old porch , his eyes dreamily fixed on the distant haymakers in his OAvn SAvelling harvest fields , thinking . He had sat there for fully an hour , doing nothing , seeing nothing of the rich landscape , broad meadows and laden orchards . The fact Avas the old gentleman was in trouble . " Becky , do you know Avhere Jennie Avent ? " asked the farmer thoughtfully , tipping his chair back against the porch illarsas his Avife made her appearance with a pan of

p , rosy apples in one hand , ancl a chair in the other , preparatory for a moment ' s enjoyment out from the hot kitchen , Avhile she prepared the fruit for suppsr . " I do hope she aint out a galavantin' ' round the creek , for snakes is mighty plenty this year . " "I don ' t knoAv Avhether she is or not , " snapped Mrs . Greenleaf , " and Avhatis more , I don ' t keer ! Snakes ! There is something worse nor snakes after our Jennie , or I ' m mistaken . '"

" Why , Ee-beck-y ! exclaimed the astonished farmer , " It 'pears to me you ' re a leetle out of humour 'bout something , be ' nts you 1 " " Yes , Isaac , I ' m out of humour , that ' s a fact , Jennie has bin gone all this afternoon over to Mary Siddon ' s , and I almost ICIAOAV that she sees that upstart of an artist every time she goes there . He will turn her head with his nonsense as sure as the Avorld ; aud you knoAV she is just as good as promised to Ebenezer Flint . Isaac , what do you think

ought to be did ?" " Well now , Becky , that ' s just AA'hat I bin thinking 'bout this Avhole afternoon . Ebenezer come over inter the medderthis morning , and sed that he believed the artist Avas making love to our Jennie , and I tell you he was powerful mad 'bout it . That was the very first inkling I had of the matter . I never seen the feller , nor I don ' t Avant to , but our Jennie must be lamed her place . I ' ve got to talk to that girl as soon as she comes home . "

" Well , you Avill not have long to Avait , for here she comes , " said Mrs . Greenleaf , rising to her feet and looking down the grassy path . Jennie Greenleaf , in her cool muslin , came slowly up the path , carelessly swinging her sun-hat by its blue ribbons , looking very fair and lovely . Her laughing eyes rivalled the modest violets peeping so coquettishly up from the grassy path , and the crimson roses blushed in despair at the Avarm , rich colour of her cheeks . The bright

sun had touched gently the fair face and dimpled hands , but Avhat did that matter . Had she not a Avhole battery of charms left 1 Nature had gifted her AA'ith the sweetest face that ever peeped out from beneath a sun hat , and a form light and dainty as the SAvaying willows by the little brook . "Becky , " said the farmer to his Avife , as he caught si ght of Jennie ' s graceful form , " hadn ' t you better go inside , for you are right smart out of sorts , and you might say something you'd be sorry for 1 Besides , I kin talk to her for both of us . " And as Jennie ' s little foot touched the step , Mrs . Greenleaf passed into the house , muttering about some folks thinking that they knew it all .

Farmer Greenleaf coughed once or twice , pulled his broadrimmecl hat a little further over his face , gave old Hover a kick Avith his foot , accompanied with the Avords " g it out , " and then looked up at Jennie . " Why , father , Avhat has Bover done , that you should treat him so cruelly V said Jennie , her blue eyes dancing with mischief , " I do believe that you are angry at something or somebody . " " Angry ! I am upsotand you ' re the cause of it allJennie . I want you to sit

, , down in that chair while I larn you some sense . I bin hearing to-day that there is a young scapegrace from New York making up to you , ancl I just want to knoAV if I have raised a child silly enough to be fooled by a city chap 1 Besides , I promised you to Ebenezer Flint , and he is everything I Avant iu a husband for you . Rich , old enough to haA'e some sense 'bout taking keer of you , and a Brother Mason . " " Ebenezer Flint ! " exclaimed JennieAvhole sentences of scorn compressed into her

, clear ringing voice , "I will never marry him ; he is old enough to be my father , and mean enough to be anybody or anything . " " Yes , child , but I ' ve promised , " said her father , very gravely , " and a good Mason never goes back on his word . "