as she stood before the
tiny glass drawing the comb through the curling masses of her light brown
hair, "because I've yet the pleasure of choosing the gift and of buying
and sending it to her.

"I believe I'll go down to Barnes' store to-day, for now I've made up my
mind what to do, I can hardly wait to do it."

It seemed as if everything favored Randy's scheme. The first person whom
she saw as she ran out to the well and commenced to lower the bucket was
Jotham, whistling as he strode along, deftly cutting the tops from the
roadside weeds with a switch.

"Hi, Randy! Let me help you," he said, vaulting lightly over the wall and
hastening toward her as she stood smiling in the sunlight.

"You can help in another way to-day, if you will," said Randy. "Come and
sit upon the wall while I tell you about it."

"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy,
that I'd do anything for you."

"Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking
earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes.

"And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell
you _all_ about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't."

"I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a
question."

"Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it. You
meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll tell
you then what I wish you to do."

"All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of
that."

"O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too."

"See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could
assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at
four o'clock."

"Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and her
look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a topic
made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily.

"Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be going
down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with my
Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool."

Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the door-yard
and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore a blue-checked
pinafore, below which could be seen his short snuff-colored trousers and
little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a large straw hat with a torn
brim through which the sunlight si