, there are two other ministers in
Albion, besides two more in Buryfield, five miles farther. If they won't
marry us to-night, I'll leave you in some safe home and we'll walk to
Portland to-morrow. I'm young and strong, and I know I can earn our
living somehow."

"But we haven't the price of a lodging or a breakfast between us," Hetty
said tearfully. "Would it be sinful to take some of my basket-work and
send back the money next week?"

"Yee, it would be so," Nathan answered sternly. "The least we can do is
to go away as empty-handed as we came. I can work for our breakfast."

"Oh, I can't bear to disappoint Eldress Abby," cried Hetty, breaking
anew into tears. "She'll say we've run away to live on the lower plane
after agreeing to crucify Nature and follow the angelic life!"

"I know; but there are five hundred people in Albion all living in
marriage, and we shan't be the only sinners!" Nathan argued. "Oh, Sister
Hetty, dear Hetty, keep up your spirits and trust to me!"

Nathan's hand stole out and met Hetty's in its warm clasp, the first
hand touch that the two ignorant young creatures had ever felt. Nathan's
knowledge of life had been a journey to the Canterbury Shakers in New
Hampshire with Brother Issachar; Hetty's was limited to a few drives
into Albion village, and half a dozen chats with the world's people who
came to the Settlement to buy basket-work.

"I am not able to bear the Shaker life!" sighed Nathan. "Elder Gray
allows there be such!"

"Nor I," murmured Hetty. "Eldress Harriet knows I am no saint!"

Hetty's head was now on Nathan's shoulder. The stiff Shaker cap had
resisted bravely, but the girl's head had yielded to the sweet
proximity. Youth called to youth triumphantly; the Spirit was unheard,
and all the theories of celibacy and the angelic life that had been
poured into their ears vanished into thin air. The thick shade of the
spruce tree hid the kiss that would have been so innocent, had they not
given themselves to the Virgin Church; the drip, drip, drip of the
branches on their young heads passed unheeded.

Then, one following the other silently along the highroad, hurrying
along in the shadows of the tall trees, stealing into the edge of the
woods, or hiding behind a thicket of alders at the fancied sound of a
footstep or the distant rumble of a wagon, Nathan and Hetty forsook the
faith of Mother Ann and went out into the world as Adam and Eve left the
garden, with the knowledge of go