m dodged the first apple Mandy threw at his head, but the second one
hit him squarely, and he gave a loud "Oh!"

"Stop your noise," said Mandy, "or Mr. Pettengill will be out here. I'll
ask them if they want anything else," as she rapped on the door. There
was no response and she opened it and looked in. "Why, they have all
gone to bed," she said. At that moment the old clock in the kitchen
struck nine. "It's nine o'clock and you had better be going home, Hiram
Maxwell."

"I shall have to get some anarchy to put on my forehead," said Hiram.
"See that big bump, Mandy, that you made."

Mandy approached him quite closely and looked at his forehead; as she
did so she turned up her nose and puckered her mouth. Her arms were
hanging by her side. Hiram grasped her around the waist, holding both of
her arms tight, and before Mandy could break away he gave her a kiss
full on the mouth.

He made a quick rush for the door, opened it and dashed out into the
night. Luckily for him there was no moon and he was out of sight before
Mandy could recover her self-possession and reach the door. She peered
out into the darkness for a moment; then she closed the door and bolted
it, took a lamp and went up to her own room. Standing in front of her
looking glass, she turned up her nose and puckered up her mouth as she
had done when facing Hiram.

"That's the first time Hiram Maxwell ever kissed me," she said to
herself, "Mebbe it will be the last time and mebbe it won't." Then she
said reflectively, "I didn't think the little fellow had so much spunk
in him."

In a quarter of an hour she was dreaming of cupids, and hearts, and
arrows, and St. Valentine's Day, which was not so very far away.

CHAPTER XV.

A LONG LOST RELATIVE.

Ezekiel Pettengill owned what Deacon Mason did not--a nice carryall and
a good road horse. Ezekiel would fix no price, but Quincy would not
drive him unless he paid for the use of the team. One dollar for half a
day, two dollars for a whole day, were the prices finally fixed upon.

Quincy drove first to Mrs. Putnam's. As he was ascending the steps the
front door was opened and Lindy stood there to welcome him, which she
did by extending her hand and then showing him into the parlor. She was
evidently on the point of going out, for she had on her outdoor
garments. After a few commonplaces relating to health and the weather,
Quincy abruptly approached the object of his visit by saying, "I
received your