don't know," said Abner; "I heerd that Hiram was goin' to leave yer,
so I came 'round to see if yer wanted ter hire a man."

"Do yer know of one?" asked the Deacon with a smile.

"That's all right, Deacon," said Abner. "I don't blame yer fer havin'
yer little joke. I've worked so long fer the Professor that I expect to
have it flung up at me. But I've renounced the Evil One and all his
wicked ways, and I want to be taken into a good Christian home, and
eventooally jine the church."

"While the lamp holds out to burn,
The vilest sinner may return,"

quoted the Deacon, as he hung up one piece of harness and took down
another.

"That's true as Gospel," said Abner; "and I hope you'll see it's your
duty, as I've heerd Parson Howe say, to save the brand from the
burnin'."

"Well, you go in and talk to Mrs. Mason," said the Deacon; "she's the
one that wants the work done, and if she's satisfied to give yer a
trial, it's all the same to me."

"Thank yer, Deacon," answered Abner. "There's one p'int in my favor,
Deacon; I hain't got no girl, and I sha'n't take any of your time to go
courtin';" and with this sly dig at Hiram, he went in to settle his fate
with the Deacon's wife.

On that same Wednesday morning all of the Pettengill family were
together at the breakfast table. The conversation naturally turned to
Mrs. Putnam's death, and Ezekiel remarked "that she was a nice old lady,
and that she and his mother were great friends. It beats all," continued
he, "the way Lindy has acted. Abner Stiles told me that she took the
half-past three train to Boston, and he said Bob Wood took over an
express wagon full of trunks. Samanthy Green told Stiles that Lindy
hadn't left a single thing in the house that belonged to her, and it
don't look as though she was comin' back to the funeral."

During this recital, Alice listened intently. She flushed then grew
pale, and finally burst into tears. All present, of course, attributed
her agitation to her well known love for Mrs. Putnam.

"Shall I go upstairs with you, Sis?" asked Ezekiel.

"No," said Alice, drying her eyes, "I'm going into the parlor. I told
Mandy to build a fire there, and I want you and Uncle Ike and Mr. Sawyer
to come with me."

When they were gathered in the parlor, Alice began her story. Every word
said by the dead woman had burned itself deep into her memory, and from
the time she entered the sick room until she fell exhausted upon the
stairway, aft