his team."

"Well," exulted Don, "a boy came pretty near it to-day."

But Annie only stuck out her lip at him in the inimitable female manner,
and ran off to add to the mischief that Don had already made between
Ranald and his rival.

But now the day's work was over, and the hour for the day's event had
come, for supper was the great event to which all things moved at bees.
The long tables stood under the maple trees, spread with the richest,
rarest, deadliest dainties known to the housewives and maidens of the
countryside. About the tables stood in groups the white-aproned girls,
tucked and frilled, curled and ribboned into all degrees of bewitching
loveliness. The men hurried away with their teams, and then gave
themselves to the serious duty of getting ready for supper, using many
pails of water in their efforts to remove the black from the burnt wood
of the brule.

At length the women lost all patience with them, and sent Annie
Ross, with two or three companions, to call them to supper. With arms
intertwined, and with much chattering and giggling, the girls made
their way to the group of men, some of whom were engaged in putting the
finishing touches to their toilet.

"Supper is ready," cried Annie, "and long past ready. You need not be
trying to fix yourselves up so fine. You are just as bad as any girls.
Oh!" Her speech ended in a shriek, which was echoed by the others, for
Aleck McRae rushed at them, stretching out his black hands toward them.
But they were too quick for him, and fled for protection to the safe
precincts of the tables.

At length, when the last of the men had made themselves, as they
thought, presentable, they began to make their approach to the tables,
slowly and shyly for the most part, each waiting for the other. Aleck
McRae, however, knew little of shyness, but walked past the different
groups of girls, throwing on either hand a smile, a wink, or a word, as
he might find suitable.

Suddenly he came upon the group where the minister's wife and her niece
were standing. Here, for the moment, his ease forsook him, but Mrs.
Murray came to meet him with outstretched hand.

"So you still retain your laurels?" she said, with a frank smile. "I
hear it was a great battle."

Aleck shook hands with her rather awkwardly. He was not on the easiest
terms with the minister and his wife. He belonged distinctly to the
careless set, and rather enjoyed the distinction.

"Oh, it was not much," he sai