ed, as she met him, and hurrying question
upon question before giving him time to answer the first one.

The youth raised his cap and bowed to the elder members of the party
before answering the girl. Then he said:

"I did not know that I could come until an hour before I started. I came
by the midnight express, and reached here just in time for church. I
have not seen, or I should say, I have not spoken to, any one here yet
except yourself.

"Last evening, being Friday evening, we were at work very late on our
Saturday's supplement, and a Christmas story in it. Very often we have
to work on Christmas night, if the next day is a week day; and every
Sunday night--that is, from twelve midnight, when the Sabbath ends--we
have to work to get out Monday morning's paper."

"Oh, yes; of course," said Fabian.

"Well, I never have had a whole holiday since I have been in the _Watch_
office; but last night, about half-past ten, after the paper had gone to
press, the foreman came to me, paid my wages up to the first of January,
and told me that I need not return to the office at midnight after
Sunday, but might have leave of absence until Monday morning, so as to
have time to go and spend Christmas with my friends if I wished to do
so."

Just then Clarence Rockharrt joined them and said, anxiously:

"Mother, dear, I think you had better get into the carriage. It is very
bleak out here, and you might take cold."

Mrs. Rockharrt at once took the arm of her youngest and best-beloved son
and let him lead her away to the spot where the comfortable family coach
awaited them.

Mr. Fabian started to follow with Cora.

"Come with us to the carriage door, Rule," said the girl, looking back
and stretching her hand out toward the youth.

"Yes! Come!" added pleasant Mr. Fabian.

Regulas touched his hat and followed. Fabian put his niece in the seat
beside her grandmother, and then turned to the youth and inquired:

"What are you going to do with yourself to-day?"

"I shall go down to my old home, sir, Mother Scythia's hut."

"Oh! Ah! Yes; I remember. You are going to stop there?"

"Yes, sir; but I shall try to see all old friends to-day or to-morrow,
and I should like to go to Rockhold to thank all the friends there who
have been kind to me, and to tell Mrs. Rockharrt and Miss Cora, who were
kindest of all, how I have got on in the city."

"Certainly! Certainly, Rule! Come whenever you like! And see here! It
is a long, rou