man of wonderful energy, sir. Quite the sort
of a man we need in Old Ebenezer. And I am glad to see that his paper
is picking up. I was over at the State Capital the other day, and the
Governor spoke of something taken from its columns."

"Mr. Warren remembers your kindness, sir," replied Lyman; "not only
your words of encouragement, but the money you so generously advanced
to him."

"A paltry sum, and really I had forgotten it."

"The sum was not large, but any debt is embarrassing until we pay it,
and then we can look back upon it as a pleasure."

"Sound doctrine, Mr. Lyman. But there must be no embarrassment in
this matter. So, if you please, you may tell Mr. Warren that I will
take enough copies of the next edition to cancel the debt. Not enough
to embarrass him, you understand. It would come to about one hundred
copies, I believe. But let him make it two hundred, as I wish to send
it out pretty largely, and I will send him five dollars in addition.
Will you pardon me if I mix business with pleasure, and give you the
money now?" He unhooked his arm.

"I shall be delighted to act as your messenger," Lyman replied.

"I thank you, sir; you are very obliging. And now," he added, when he
had given Lyman the money, "we'll go over to the grotto and get a
lemonade and a cigar."

They went to a hollow pile of stones, where a negro stood ready to
serve them. "Help yourself to the lemonade. It was deemed advisable to
have nothing strong. A very old ladle, that, sir; it was the property
of my grandfather. The cigars, Jacob, the gold band. Now, here's a
cigar, sir, that I can recommend. Oh, don't stop at one. Here," he
added, grabbing a handful, "put these in your pocket, for I am sure
you'll not get any like them down town. Well, if you will be kind
enough to excuse me, I'll slip off to look after my other guests."

Lyman walked about, joking and gathering the names of the joyous
maidens, the heavy men, the light young fellows, and the dames who had
come to enjoy their daughters' conquests and their own dignity. With a
feeling of disappointment he wondered why the banker's family was not
represented, and more than once he looked about sweepingly, believing
that he had heard the loud voice of Zeb Sawyer. He mused that his work
was done, that the company had transacted its business with him, and
he turned aside to a quiet spot, to a seat behind a clump of shrubs,
to smoke a cigar and to picture Warren's surprise and del