ngton and her daughter.

"Good-evening, Ralph; you did not expect to see me quite so soon, I
imagine," said Mrs. Carrington, with a smile, as she stepped in.

"Well, no," stammered the youth. "Won't you have a chair?" and he pushed a
seat forward for the lady and another for her daughter.

"Thank you, yes," returned Mrs. Carrington. "Is this Mrs. Nelson?" she went
on, as Ralph's mother appeared.

"Yes, madam," said the widow. "Pray, make yourself comfortable. Perhaps you
would prefer a rocker?"

"No, we won't stay but a minute. Has Ralph told you of his bravery this
noon?"

"He said he stopped your runaway team."

"He did nobly, and my daughter and I have come to offer him a slight reward
for his gallant deed."

"I was not looking for a reward," put in Ralph.

"But you deserve one, Ralph, and I trust you will accept what we have
brought. Julia!"

"Yes, mamma. Here it is," and from beneath her dress folds Julia Carrington
produced a small morocco-covered box. "Allow me to present this, Ralph
Nelson, with the compliments of my mother and myself," she said, turning to
the young bridge tender.

She held out the box.

"Thank you, but I--I really didn't expect anything," stammered Ralph, as he
took the offering.

"Open it, and let us see the kind gift Mrs. Carrington and her daughter
have made," said his mother.

There was a catch on one side of the small box. Ralph pressed upon this,
and up flew the lid, revealing to his astonished and pleased gaze a small
but neatly engraved gold watch, with chain and charm attached.

"A gold watch!" cried Ralph.

"And chain and all!" added Mrs. Nelson.

"Really, I--I can't accept this!" and Ralph blushed furiously. "I--I----"

"Oh, yes, you can," laughed Julia Carrington. "It is not as much as we
think you ought to have, but----"

"It is more, Miss Carrington."

"Do you like it, Ralph?" questioned the older lady.

"Very much indeed. I have always wanted a good watch. I have been using
father's old one, but that is about worn out, and can't be made to run with
much regularity."

CHAPTER XIII.

ON BIG SILVER LAKE.

The Carringtons remained at the Nelson cottage much longer than they
originally intended. It was ten o'clock when Ralph lit the way to where
their carriage was standing, in charge of a colored coachman. During the
visit the rich folks asked Mrs. Nelson and Ralph much about themselves.
Julia Carrington proved herself a very nice young lady, a