ale o' wind. Some say she's wore an onsettled eye for
six weeks past, and she glared at me yesterday, when I run in to borry
an egg, same as if I was one wild animal and she was another. Ssssh!
'Tis Bowler, I tell ye! They go that way, jest as often as they git a
chance! I call it an awful jedgment on Elder Lindsay, bein' married
into that family. Some say his mother besought him on her bended
knees, but he was clean infatooated. I declare to you, Mis' Bean, I'm
terrified most to death, to think of you and me alone here, so near to
a ravin' lunatic. I don't think nothin' of robbers, alongside o'
madness. She might creep in while you're standin' there,--your house
is more handy by than mine, 'count of there bein' no fence, and--"

"Yah! bah! ha! ha! ha! hurrah!" sounded in sharp, clear tones from
Mrs. Mellen's window. Two ghastly faces, white with actual terror,
gazed at each other for an instant, then disappeared; and immediately
after was heard a sound of bolts being driven home, and of heavy
furniture being dragged about.

But Mrs. Mellen sat and fanned herself, being somewhat heated, and
gazed calmly at the beauty of the prospect.

"I've enjoyed myself real well!" she said. "I couldn't free my mind,
not while Rosy and Mr. Lindsay was round; I've had a real good time."

She fanned herself placidly, and then added, addressing the universe
in general, with an air of ineffable good will:

"I shouldn't wonder if my hearin' improved, too, kind o' suddin, same
as it came on. That's Bowler, too! It's real convenient, bein' a
Bowler!"

* * * * *

NEIGHBOURS IN CYRUS

NEIGHBOURS IN CYRUS.

"Hi-Hi!" said Miss Peace, looking out of the window. "It is really
raining. Isn't that providential, now?"

"Anne Peace, you are enough to provoke a saint!" replied a peevish
voice from the furthest corner of the room. "You and your providences
are more than I can stand. What do you mean this time, I _should_ like
to know? the picnic set for to-day, and every soul in the village
lottin' on goin', 'xcept those who _would_ like best to go and can't.
I've been longin' for these two years to go to a picnic and it's never
ben so's I could. And now, jest when I _could_ ha' gone, this
affliction must needs come to me. And then to have you rejoicin'
'cause it rains!"

The speaker paused for breath, and Miss Peace answered mildly: "I'm
real sorry for you, Delia, you know I am; and if the' was