ere with the view of passing sleighs.

Entering, the visitors found inside the same atmosphere of successful,
timely display of fresh and attractive goods as had been promised by the
outside. The store did not look like a village store at all; its whole
air was metropolitan. The smallest counter carried out this effect; on
every hand were goods selected with rare skill, and this description
held good of the cheaper articles as well as of those more expensive.

"Well, Hugh, we don't understand, but we are very glad," said Aunt Ruth
heartily, shaking hands with the young man who advanced to meet them.

"That's kind of you. It goes without saying that I am very glad, too,"
responded the proprietor of the place. His thin face flushed a little as
he greeted the others, and his eyes, like Westcott's, dwelt a trifle
longer on the face of one of the party than on any of the others.

"Rob, I believe you'll find your lavender linen here," said Ruth in her
sister's ear, as Uncle Rufus came in and Benson began to show them all
about the store. "Look, there are all kinds of white linens; let's stop
and ask."

With a word of explanation, Roberta delayed at the counter Ruth had
indicated, making inquiry for the goods she sought. It chanced that this
department was next to an inclosure which was partially of glass, the
new office of the firm. The old firm had had no office, only a desk in a
dark corner. In this place two men were talking. One was facing the
store, his glance even as he spoke upon the way things were going
outside; the other's back was turned. But Ruth, gazing interestedly
around as her sister examined linens, discovered something familiar
about the set of one of the heads just beyond the glass partition,
though she could not see the face. When this head was suddenly thrown
back with a peculiar motion she had noted when its owner was
particularly amused over something, Ruth said to herself: "Why, that's
Mr. Richard Kendrick! What in the world is he doing out here at
Eastman?"

As if she had called him Richard turned about and his look encountered
Ruth's. The next instant he was out of the glass inclosure and at her
side. Roberta, hearing Ruth's low but eager, "Why, Mr. Kendrick, who
ever expected to see you in Eastman!" turned about with an expression of
astonishment, which was reflected in both the faces before her.

An interested village salesgirl now looked on at a little scene the like
of which had never come