e out for
a breath of fresh air.

Our hero encountered several other adventures of a minor character, but
in good time arrived in New York City. He had not announced his return
to the farm, and consequently spent several days in the all-round
greatest city in the world. There is no place like old New York; there
is more life to be seen in the great American metropolis in one day than
can be seen in any other great capital in two. It is a city peculiar to
itself, unlike any other, in its situation between two rivers and its
nose practically putting out to the sea; in its activities and general
loveliness--indeed, it in a wonderful place, and Desmond enjoyed every
minute during his sojourn, but at length he took a train up-country and
in due time arrived at the station from which he was to team it to the
old farm where his grandfather and father had lived and died.

As stated, Desmond had not announced his return, and when within a mile
of the farm he alighted from the wagon that had carried him over and
started afoot. It was late in the afternoon when he arrived in sight of
the old farm, and he was standing on a rise of ground looking over
toward his old home, when he espied a girl sitting beneath a tree. One
glance was sufficient; he recognized Amy, and he determined to steal
upon her unawares. He managed to gain a clump of bushes located within
twenty feet of where the girl sat, and he had an opportunity to study
her unobserved. We will not describe his emotions, but it was a
beautiful sight that fell under his delighted gaze. The life on the farm
had been of great advantage to Amy in many ways, and in her white muslin
dress she appeared so beautiful as to make it seem that she was out of
place in that wild region. Her form was perfect in its grace, and her
face--well, we will not go into a description, but let it suffice to say
that there are few girls in all the world who surpass her in the
exquisite loveliness of her face.

Desmond studied the girl for a long time and he observed that she
appeared to be perfectly contented and happy. She had her mandolin with
her, and after quite a period of abstraction she took up her instrument,
and soon her splendid voice sounded clear and melodious on the still
air, for it was an afternoon when nature rested under a spell, as it
were; not a breath of air appeared to float amid the leaves and flowers.

A moment, and our hero made the most delightful discovery of his life.
Amy