ad not gone to the funeral The latter
was busy skimming cream from a dozen large milk pans, while Mandy sat
before the kitchen stove, with Swiss by her side. She was thinking of
Hiram, and wondering if he really intended to ask her to marry him.

"I don't think he's been foolin' me, but now he's goin' into business I
should think it was about time for him to speak up or quit."

Swiss suddenly arose, sniffed and went to the kitchen door. The door was
opened softly and some one entered the room. Mandy did not turn her
head. Perhaps she guessed who it was. Then some one placed a chair close
to Mandy and took a seat beside her.

"Say, M-m-m-m-m-a-andy," said Hiram, "will you please read this to me?
It's an important document, and I want to be sure I've got it jest
right." As he said this he passed Mandy a folded paper.

She opened it and the following words met her eye: "This is to certify
that I, Hiram Maxwell, of Mason's Corner, in the town of Eastborough,
county of Normouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby declare my
intention to ask Miss Amanda Skinner of the village, town, county, and
state aforesaid, to become my lawful wedded wife."

"Oh, you big silly!" cried Mandy, dropping the paper, for she didn't
think it necessary to read any further.

"Is it all right?" cried Hiram, "it cost a quarter to git it drawn up.
Then I swore to it before old Squire Rundlett over to Montrose, and it
ought ter hold water. You'd better keep it, Mandy, then I can't fling it
up at yer that I never axed yer to marry me."

"Who told you that?" asked the girl indignantly.

"Ma Hawkins. Well, she didn't exactly say it to me, but she spoke it out
so loud to Betsy Green that I heered it clear out in the wood-shed and
I'll tell yer what, Mandy, it kinder made me mad."

"Well, it's all right now," said Mandy soothingly.

"Is it?" asked Hiram, his face beaming with delight.

The next instant there was a succession of peculiar sounds heard in the
room. As Swiss came back from the kitchen door but one chair was needed
for the happy couple, and an onlooker would have thought that chair was
occupied by one person with a very large head, having light curly hair
on one side and straight dark hair on the other, no face being visible.

It was upon this picture that Mrs. Crowley looked as she opened the door
leading into the kitchen and started to come into the room with a large
pan full of cream.

Astonished, she stepped backward, f