at makes you so certain, Mary Oldfield,"
asked her mother, with the natural irritation of the unprepared. "I
should like to know how father's got hold of things pa'son and doctor
ain't neither of 'em heard of?"

"Why," said the minister, rising, "he's simply crammed with town
legends. He can repeat them by the yard. He's a local historian. But
then, I needn't tell you that; you know what an untiring student he has
been." And he went away thoughtful and discouraged, omitting, as Hattie
realized with awe, to offer prayer.

Mary stepped joyously about, getting supper and singing "Hearken, Ye
Sprightly!" in an exultant voice; but her mother brooded. It was not
until dusk, when the three sat before the clock-room fire, "blazed"
rather for company than warmth, that Young Nick's Hattie opened her
mouth and spoke.

"Mary," said she, "how'd you find out your grandpa was such great
shakes?"

Mary was in some things much older than her mother. She answered
demurely, "I don't know as I can say."

"Nick," continued Hattie, turning to her spouse, "did you ever hear your
father was smarter'n the minister an' doctor put together, so 't they
had to run round beseechin' him to tell 'em how to act?"

Nicholas knocked his pipe against the andiron, and rose, to lay it
carefully on the shelf. "I can't say's I did," he returned. Then he set
forth for Eli Pike's barn, where it was customary now to stand about the
elephant and prophesy what Tiverton might become. As for Hattie,
realizing how little light she was likely to borrow from those who were
nearest and dearest her, she remarked that she should like to shake them
both.

The next day began a new and exciting era. It was bruited abroad that
the presence of Nicholas Oldfield was necessary for the success of the
celebration; and now young men but lately engaged in unprofitable
warfare rode madly over the county in search of him. They inquired for
him at taverns; they sought him in farmhouses where he had been wont to
lodge. He gained almost the terrible notoriety of an absconding cashier;
and the current issue of the Sudleigh "Star" wore a flaming headline,
"No Trace of Mr. Oldfield Yet!"

Mary at first waxed merry over the pursuit. She knew very well why
gran'ther was staying away; and her pride grew insolent at seeing him
sought in vain. But when his loss flared out at her in sacred print, she
stared for a moment, and then, after that wide-eyed, piteous glance at
the possibiliti