of any new proprietor.

"And considering this," continued Mr. Tolman, "I think it would be well
for you to bring your love matters to a conclusion while I am here to
help you."

"My love matters!" exclaimed Mr. Glascow, with a flush.

"Yes, certainly," said Mr. Tolman. "I have eyes, and I know all about
it. Now let me tell you what I think. When a thing is to be done, it
ought to be done the first time there is a good chance. That's the way
I do business. Now you might as well come around here to-morrow
afternoon prepared to propose to Miss Edwards. She is due to-morrow,
for she has been two days away. If she doesn't come, we will postpone
the matter until the next day. But you should be ready to-morrow. I
don't believe you can see her much when you don't meet her here, for
that family is expected back very soon, and from what I infer from her
account of her employers, you won't care to visit her at their house."

The night druggist wanted to think about it.

"There is nothing to think," said Mr. Tolman. "We know all about the
lady." (He spoke truly, for he had informed himself about both parties
to the affair.) "Take my advice, and be here to-morrow afternoon--and
come rather early."

The next morning Mr. Tolman went up to his parlor on the second floor,
and brought down two blue stuffed chairs, the best he had, and put them
in the little room back of the shop. He also brought down one or two
knickknacks and put them on the mantelpiece, and he dusted and
brightened up the room as well as he could. He even covered the table
with a red cloth from the parlor.

When the young lady arrived, he invited her to walk into the back room
to look over some new books he had just got in. If she had known he
proposed to give up the business, she would have thought it rather
strange that he should be buying new books. But she knew nothing of
his intentions. When she was seated at the table whereon the new books
were spread, Mr. Tolman stepped outside of the shop door to watch for
Glascow's approach. He soon appeared.

"Walk right in," said Mr. Tolman. "She's in the back room looking over
books. I'll wait here, and keep out customers as far as possible.
It's pleasant, and I want a little fresh air. I'll give you twenty
minutes."

Glascow was pale, but he went in without a word, and Mr. Tolman, with
his hands under his coat-tail, and his feet rather far apart,
established a blockade on the doorstep. He