do no
harm, for it would be their last ride together and probably their last
meeting.

He said, "Good morning, Miss Mason," and then added with that tone which
the society belle considers a matter of course, but which is so pleasing
to the village maiden, "You look charming this morning, Miss Mason. I
don't think our ride to-day could make your cheeks any redder than they
are now." Huldy blushed, making her cheeks a still deeper crimson. "I
will be here at one o'clock with the team," said Quincy. "Will you be
ready?"

"Yes," answered Huldy softly.

Quincy raised his hat, and a moment later he was on his way to
Eastborough Centre.

He walked briskly and thought he would stop at Uncle Ike's and carry out
the resolution he had made the night before, but as he turned up the
path that led to the house he saw a man standing on the steps talking to
Uncle Ike, who stood in the doorway. The young man was Ezekiel
Pettengill. Shakespeare says,

"'Tis conscience that makes cowards of us all,"

and although Quincy at heart was a gentleman, he also knew it was not
quite right for him to take Miss Mason out riding again under the
circumstances; but young men are often stubborn and Quincy felt a little
stiff-necked and rebellious that morning.

He reached Eastborough Centre, mailed his father the letter relating to
Jim Sawyer, and going to the stable, picked out the best rig it could
supply. He always had the same horse. It was somewhat small in size, but
a very plump, white mare; she was a good roadster and it was never
necessary to touch her with the whip. Shake it in the stock and she
would not forget it for the next two miles. The stable keeper told with
much unction how two fellows hired her to go from Eastborough Centre to
Montrose. On their way home they had drunk quite freely at the latter
place, and thought they would touch the mare up with the whip; they were
in an open team and the result was that she left them at different
points along the road and reached home with no further impediment to her
career than the shafts and the front wheels.

Instead of coming back by the main road which led by Uncle Ike's, Quincy
went through by what was called The Willows, which increased the
distance a couple of miles. Nevertheless, it lacked five minutes of one
o'clock when he drove up to Deacon Mason's front door.

Huldy was all dressed for the occasion, and with a "Good-by, mother," to
Mrs. Mason, who was in the kitchen,