ed variations, his love of loves, "Annie Laurie," and
tears came to his eyes because he was both happy and sad. The keys
seemed to whisper to him, so gently did he touch them, and their tones
fell, not upon his ears, but upon his heart, with a soothing pathos like
the sough of an old song or a sweet, forgotten odor of a day that is
past.

Billy did his best to console Rita, though it was a hopeless task and
full of peril for him. There was but one topic of interest to her. Rome
and Greece were dull. What cared she about the Romans? Dic was not a
Roman. Conversation upon books wearied her, and subjects that a few
months ago held her rapt attention, now threw her into revery. I am
sorry to say she was a silly, love-lorn young woman, and not in the
least entitled to the respect of strong-minded persons. I would not
advise you, my dear young girl, to assume Rita's faults; but if you
should do so, many a good, though misguided man will mistake them for
virtues and will fall at your feet. You will not deceive your sisters;
but you won't care much for their opinion.

* * * * *

Soon after Dic's departure, Jim Fisher, Mrs. Bays's brother, renewed his
offer to take Mr. Bays as a partner in the Indianapolis store. The offer
was a good one and was honestly made. Fisher needed more capital, and to
that extent his motive was selfish; but the business was prosperous, and
he could easily have found a partner.

One Saturday evening he came up to talk over the matter with his
brother-in-law. He took with him to Blue no less a person than Roger
Williams--not the original, redoubtable Roger who discovered Rhode
Island, but a descendant of his family. Williams was a man of
twenty-five. Boston was his home, and he was the son of a father
Williams who manufactured ploughs, spades, wagons, and other
agricultural implements. The young man was his father's western
representative, and Fisher sold his goods in the Indianapolis district.
He dressed well and was affable with his homespun friends. In truth, he
was a gentleman. He made himself at home in the cabin; but he had brains
enough to respect and not to patronize the good people who dwelt
therein.

Of course it will be useless for me to pretend that this young fellow
did not fall in love with Rita. If I had been responsible for his going
to Blue, you would be justified in saying that I brought him there for
the purpose of furnishing a rival to Dic; but I h