ckpole should come
over to Mason's Corner the following Saturday and see if Deacon Mason
would agree to act as moderator at the annual town meeting on the
following Monday, the warrants for same having already been posted.

When Quincy reached home he found Hiram waiting for him. They went in to
Jacob's Parlor and took their accustomed seats.

"Any news?" asked Quincy.

"Not a word," said Hiram, "neither Strout or Abner have been seen on the
street sence the sale wuz over, but Strout has got hold of it in some
way that Huldy's engaged to 'Zeke Pettengill, and it's all over town."

At that moment Ezekiel opened the door and stepped into the shed. There
was a roguish twinkle in his eye and a smile about his lips as he
advanced towards Quincy.

"Waal, the cat's out o' the bag," said he to Quincy.

"Yes, Hiram was just telling me that Strout got hold of it in some way."

"Yaas," said Ezekiel, "he got hold of it in the most direct way that he
possibly could."

"How's that," asked Quincy, "did Miss Mason tell him?"

"Yaas," said Ezekiel, "he seemed to want a satisfactory reason why she
couldn't marry him, and it sorter seemed to her that the best reason
that she could give him was that she was engaged to marry me."

Hiram nearly lost his seat on the chopping block while expressing his
delight, and on Quincy's face there was a look of quiet satisfaction
that indicated that he was quite well satisfied with the present
condition of affairs.

"By the way, Hiram," said Quincy, "I believe you told me once that Mrs.
Hawkins, who keeps the house where the Professor boards, is Mandy
Skinner's mother."

"Yaas," said Hiram, "Mandy's father died and her mother married Jonas
Hawkins. He wasn't much account afore he was married, but I understand
that he has turned out to be a rale handy man 'round the boardin' house.
Mrs. Hawkins's a mighty smart woman, and she knew just what kind of a
man she wanted."

"Well," said Quincy, "I want you to tell Mandy to see her mother as soon
as she can, and engage the best room that she has left in the house for
a gentleman that I expect down here from Boston next Monday night.
Here's ten dollars, and have Mandy tell her that this is her week's pay
in advance for room and board, counting from to-day."

"Waal, I don't believe she'll take it," said Hiram; "she's a mighty
smart woman and mighty clus in money matters, but she's no skin, and I
don't believe she'll take ten dollars for one week'