happy?"

"Yes, and Aunt Rachel sent you this little box of wax-candles. She said
you loved to read evenings, sometimes, and these gave such a clear,
steady light, it would do your old eyes good to behold it."

"The dear, kind-hearted creature!" said Aunt Patty, receiving the
package and brushing away a grateful tear. "Sure she is a perfect
Christian if there is one on earth."

"O, we have some news at the vicarage, aunty! The old gentleman, in
whose family I resided during my stay in the western country, has sent a
letter to Parson Grey, narrating a sad tale of misfortunes, and
expressing a desire to visit him ere long. It seems the cholera has been
committing frightful ravages through those sections, and his entire
family have been swept away in the brief space of one week. And, O,
aunty, I dread to go on!"

"Let me hear, child."

"You recollect the man, Sumpter, who spoke those dreadful words in a
social company?"

"Yes, yes, didn't I have him here, in this very room, on a night long
ago--and Hardin too? Ay, dark, wicked schemes, and worse than those,
showed in their cups. But go on, love."

"Well, they have been arrested for forgery and found guilty. The sequel
of the affair Mr. Grey received last evening, in an extra sent him by
Dr. Prague. It appears the verdict was rendered during a violent storm,
which struck the court-house, and, in the confusion that followed,
Hardin shot Sumpter and escaped."

"O, shocking!" exclaimed Aunt Patty, with horror depicted on her
countenance. "Ay, God's vengeance is sure to overtake the wicked sooner
or later."

"We look for the arrival of Dr. Prague every day. How do you think he
will meet me, aunty?"

"How should he meet you, child, but with shame and confusion of face?"

"But he was always kind to me, aunty."

"Well, he didn't do right never to send a letter to inquire after your
fate, or forward your clothes and wages."

"He might have been prevented by his wife. I know she was a violent
woman and had ever a dislike to me."

"Nothing should prevent a man from doing what is just and right, Annie,"
said Aunt Patty, in an inflexible tone; "but it is like you to think the
best of people's failings, and I acknowledge it is a good way. Now,
hinney, I'll make a dish of tea, and we'll have a brimming bowl of
Crummie's sweet milk, with some of your favorite berries. I'm so glad!
It seems a Providence that I gathered some this mornin'. I'll slab up
some batter cakes;