t doing nothing," was the not
over-particular rejoinder.

Frank smiled. "Well," he said, "a fellow must do something when he
can, but there are times when he cannot."

"Perhaps," said Marie, rather absent-mindedly, as if she had not
understood the meaning of his words.

She glanced around her, to make sure that there was no one about;
then she came quite close to Frank. "Have you heard the news?" she
said.

"What news?" questioned Frank.

"Why, they say your father is goin' to marry; didn't you know?"

Frank's face became livid, his lips tightened, his pruning knife
dropped from his hand.

"What?" he exclaimed, as if he had not fully understood.

"Your father's going to marry again," said the servant in an
undertone, "and I'll tell you who told me so, it was Jim Tozer, her
brother; he ought to know."

"The brother of whom?" questioned Frank mechanically.

"The brother of Miss Tozer," informed Marie.

"I should have thought that your father would have stuck a little
more to his word, for when your poor, dear mother was dying, she
mentioned something to your father about marrying. He pretended to
cry, and bawled out: 'Don't mention it, I'll never marry again; I'll
never marry again.'"

"And mother been dead only five months," said Frank, more to himself
than otherwise.

"But it won't be yet, you know," said Marie. "Jim Tozer told me they
would probably wait till next year."

Then seeing Mr. Mathers coming towards them, she pretended to gather
some parsley close by, and quickly re-entered the house.

Frank's father did not talk to his son then, but began taking
measures for the greenhouse.

As for Frank, he was extremely angry with his father. He thought
that his mother's memory was being slighted; but he resolved not to
say a word about it to his father, and to let matters stand as they
were.

Time passed on. The winter was over. It was the month of April. The
birds sang in the trees, the grass was springing up, the fields were
being clothed in verdure. Nature, which had lain so long dormant,
was awakening. From the trees which looked dead a few weeks ago
little buds were peeping forth, taking their first view of the
world.

Frank Mathers was filled with delight as he watched this development
of nature.

One evening when he had just finished planting some tomatoes, he was
surprised to see his father enter the greenhouse.

Mr. Mathers' face was rather pale. He looked agitated.

"They look wel