years and years from now, I
mean--when you accomplish some great thing and I can think that it was
because of what _I_ said that you first began to use your influence for
good among these people----"

Her voice broke a little and she halted. She feared she had gone too
far and that perhaps Nelson Haley would misunderstand her. But he was
only silent for a moment. Then, turning to her and grasping her hands
firmly, he said:

"Do you mean that, Janice?"

"Yes. I mean just that," she said, rather flutteringly. "Oh! here
comes a wagon. It must be Walky."

"Never mind Walky," said Nelson, firmly. "I want to tell you that I
sha'n't forget what you've said. If there really is a nice girl like
you feeling proud of me, I'm going to do just my very best to retain
her good opinion. You see if I don't!"

They were in the shadow as Walky drove by and he did not see them.
After that Janice and the teacher hurried on so as not to be overtaken
by the noisy party of young folks before they reached the village.

As they came up the hill toward Hopewell Drugg's store they saw a dim
light in the storekeeper's back room, and the wailing notes of his
violin reached their ears.

"Hopewell is grinding out his usual classic," chuckled Nelson Haley.
"I hear him at it morning, noon, and night. Seems to me 'Silver
Threads Among the Gold' is kind of _passe_."

"Hush!" said Janice. "There is somebody standing at the side gate,
listening. You see, sir, everybody doesn't have the same opinion of
poor Mr. Drugg's music----"

"My goodness!" ejaculated Nelson, under his breath. "It's Miss
Scattergood, I do believe!"

The timid little spinster could not escape. They had come upon her so
quietly.

"Oh! is it you, Janice dear?" she said, in a startled voice.

"And Mr. Haley. We are walking home from the Hammetts' sugaring."

"Well! I'm glad it ain't anybody else," said Miss 'Rill frankly. "But
I _do_ run around here sometimes of an evening, when mother's busy or
asleep, just to listen to that old song. Mr. Drugg plays it with so
much feelin'--don't you think so, Mr. Haley? And then--I was always
very fond of that song."

They left her at the corner of High Street, and the flurried little
woman hurried home.

"I do believe there is a romance there," whispered the teacher, when
Miss 'Rill was out of earshot.

"So there is. Didn't you know that--years and years ago--she and Mr.
Drugg were engaged?" cried Janice. "Why,