panion and her present
surroundings. She recognized in them a certain claim to her
consideration, and a certain charm. This young stranger was a
gentleman in looks and bearing; he had some manliness in his nature,
nevertheless, (Mell felt down on gentlemen) and a heart as brimming
full of charity as St. Vincent de Paul, himself. He was not ashamed
among all his fine friends, to speak to a simple country girl, who,
destitute of fortune, had nothing to commend her but innate modesty
and God-given beauty. So far from being ashamed, he was ministering to
her wants as no one had ever ministered to them before--as kindly and
courteously as if she were in every respect his equal in social
standing. Jerome would not speak to her, and this gentleman, in her
weakness, held the cup to her lips, and put the food into her mouth
with his own hands.

"I'll pray for him this very night," thought Mell, and moistened the
thought with a grateful tear.

But, long before the edibles were consumed, every vestige of a tear
had disappeared from Mell's eyes, and she was talking back to this
pattern of a gentleman, as few girls of her age knew so well how to
do. The blood rushed back to her pallid cheeks, witchery to her
tongue, magic to her glance.

"Don't be offended," she remarked to him, with enchanting candor,
after they had become the best of friends; "but I did not hear your
name this morning, and I have not the slightest idea who you are."

"Have you the slightest desire to know?"

"Indeed I have! You can't imagine--the very greatest desire!"

"Then let me refresh your memory somewhat. Do you recall a pug-nosed,
freckle-faced, bull-headed youngster, who used to pommel Jim Green
into blue jelly, every time he wanted to lift you over the swollen
creek or carry your school-bag, or--"

"I do; I remember him well. But you--you are not Rube Rutland?"

"Then I wish you'd tell me who I am! I've been thinking I was Rube
Rutland for a good many years now--for I am older than I look."

"And to think I did not know you!" exclaimed Mell.

"And to think I did not know _you!_" exclaimed Rube. "That's what gets
me! I was asking everybody and in all directions who that stunning
girl was, with--"

"Well," inquired Mell, laughing, "with _what?_ I'd like to know what
is stunning about me."

"With the sweetest face I ever looked into."

This reply caused Mell's eyes, intently fixed upon the speaker, to
drop with rare grace to meet the maiden