rt, "I never had a pleasanter New
Year's day."

"Nor I either," said Lulu; "and we had such a delightful time last year
too, that I really don't know which I enjoyed the most."

"And we have good times all the time since we have a home of our own
with our dear father in it," remarked Grace, taking his hand and
carrying it to her lips, while her sweet azure eyes looked up lovingly
into his face.

An emphatic endorsement of that sentiment from both Max and Lulu. Then
the captain, smiling tenderly upon them, said, "I dearly love to give
you pleasure, my darlings, my heart's desire is for my children's
happiness in this world and the next; but life can not be all play; so
lessons must be taken up again to-morrow morning, and I hope to find you
all in an industrious and tractable mood."

"I should hope so indeed, papa," returned Max; "if we are not both
obedient and industrious we will deserve to be called an ungrateful
set."

CHAPTER XIV.

The weather the next day was so mild and pleasant that Max and Lulu
asked and obtained permission to take a ride of several miles on their
ponies.

They went alone, their father and Violet having driven out in the family
carriage, taking the three younger children with them.

On their return Max and his sister approached the house from a rear
entrance to the grounds, passing through the bit of woods belonging to
the estate, the garden and shrubbery, and across the lawn.

In traversing the wood they came upon a man leaning idly against a tree,
in a lounging attitude, with his hands in his pockets, a half consumed
cigar in his mouth.

He was a stranger to the children, and from, his shabby, soiled
clothing, unkempt locks, and unshaven face, it was evident he belonged
to the order of tramps.

He stood directly in the path the children were pursuing, just where it
made a sudden turn, and Lulu's pony had almost trodden upon his foot
before they were aware of his vicinity.

Fairy shied, snorting with fright, and almost unseated her young rider.

"Look out there, and don't ride a fellow down!" growled the man,
catching hold of Fairy's bridle and scowling into the face of her rider.

Lulu did not seem to be frightened. Her quick temper rose at the man's
insolence, and she exclaimed authoritatively, "Let go of my bridle this
instant, and get out of the path."

"I will when I get ready, and no sooner," returned the man insolently.

"What are you doing in these grounds,