elder woman. "Henceforth we will share it
together."

So it was arranged, and Clemence and little Ruth went to live beneath
the cottage roof of Ulrica Hardyng.

Meanwhile, busy tongues were rife over this new fact. Waveland had
expected an exodus from among them, of the young schoolmistress and her
little charge, and hardly, as yet, knew what to make of her remaining
quietly among them, and living down these slanderous reports. But, at
length, after this came to be an established fact, the little village
had another excitement to create a stir among its most exclusive
circles, and this was no less an event than the marriage of the
bachelor editor of the "Clarion," with a lady of no inconsiderable
literary ability, whose home was in a distant city. And, when the
curiosity of every one was roused to the highest pitch of expectancy,
the lady made her entree into the little town with great eclat.

Immediately thereafter, there was a succession of short poems, all
running upon whispering zephyrs, murmuring rivulets, and the like, and
each signed, "Euphrasia Anastasia Strain."

The newly-made bride was welcomed with a cordiality, that was
astonishing, considering the boast that her husband had once uttered in
regard to the former vows of eternal fidelity from these same ladies.
However, time works wonders, and it was evident, from the energetic
manner in which the matrons of Waveland denounced the least apparent
departure from the narrow path of virtue, that a thorough reformation
had lately taken place in their midst.

Mrs. Strain was also speedily elected to a prominent position in the
Ladies' Charitable Society, which had now got to be a regular
institution of the town, by, virtue of having now thrown upon its tender
mercies, one paralytic old woman, two little orphans, a poor young woman
out of a situation, and a reformed drunkard, who had spent a fortune in
his time, and had also the reputation of having been a "ladies' man,"
which considerably heightened their generous interest in him. The
Society had now got upon a firm foundation, and had proved itself no
scheme from the visionary brain of an enthusiast, but of a thorough,
practical character, that won for it the respect and veneration of
everybody who knew of its existence.

There was one thing to be considered, it gave its members plenty to do,
and, meanwhile, Clemence had a short respite. She had ample time, now,
to give to little Ruth, and her love for the