done
some kind things for you and yours; I now wish you to return the favor."

As she spoke, she drew out a purse, and let him see something of its
golden contents.

"Say on, Mrs. Allen. You may trust me. If you ask anything short of a
crime, it shall be done. Yes, you have been kind to me and mine, and now
I will repay you, if in my power to do so."

Jacob Perkins was in earnest. But, whether gratitude, or that apparition
of golden sovereigns, had most influence upon him, cannot at this remote
period be said.

"Can you get a pair of horses and a carriage, or light wagon, to-night?"

"I can," replied Jacob.

"And so as not to excite undue curiosity?"

"I think so."

"Very well. Next, will you drive that team all night?"

And Mrs. Allen played with the purse of gold, and let the coins it
contained strike each other with a musical chink, very pleasant to the
ear of Jacob Perkins.

"You shall be paid handsomely for your trouble," added the lady, as
she fixed her beautiful blue eyes upon Jacob with an earnest, almost
pleading look.

"I hope there is nothing wrong," said Jacob, as some troublesome
suspicions began turning themselves over in his mind.

"Nothing wrong, as God is my witness!" And Mrs. Allen lifted her pale
face reverently upwards.

"Forgive me, madam; I might have known that," said Jacob. "And now, if
you will give me your orders, they shall be obeyed to the letter."

"Thank you, my kind friend," returned Mrs. Allen. "The service you are
now about to render me, cannot be estimated in the usual way. To me, it
will be far beyond all price."

She was agitated, and paused to recover herself. Then she resumed, with
her usual calmness of manner--

"Bring the carriage here--driving with as little noise as possible--in
half an hour. Be very discreet. Don't mention the matter even to your
wife. You can talk with her as freely as you choose on your return from
Boston."

"From Boston? Why, that is thirty miles away, at least!"

"I know it, Jacob; but I must be in Boston early to-morrow morning. You
know the road?"

"Every foot of it."

"So much the better. And now go for the carriage."

Jacob Perkins arose. As he was turning to go, Mrs. Allen placed her hand
upon his shoulder, and said--

"I can trust you, Mr. Perkins?"

"Madam, you can," was his reply; and he passed from the quiet house into
the darkness without. The night was moonless, but the stars shone down
from an unclouded sky. When