sicker'n a horse and tired enough to drop."

Quincy went to Montrose that afternoon and saw Squire Rundlett. The
latter promised to make the papers out the next day, and said he would
bring them over for signing the following morning. Quincy drove down to
Deacon Mason's and told 'Zekiel when to be on hand, and after leaving
the team in the Pettengill barn, saw Alice and informed her of the
Squire's proposed visit. He told her that he would come down that
morning to act as a witness, if his services were required.

He spent the next day at the grocery store, going over the stock with
Strout and Abbott Smith, and had a list made of articles that they
thought it would be advisable to carry in the future. He told Strout
that he would visit some wholesale grocery houses in Boston and have
samples sent down.

"Mr. Sawyer is improvin'," said Mrs. Hawkins to Betsy the next morning
after breakfast. "He's slept in his bed two nights runnin', and he's eat
four square meals, and seemed to enjoy them, too. I guess he didn't git
much when he was jumpin' 'round so from one place to another."

Squire Rundlett kept his word, and the legal documents were duly signed
and executed. Alice told the Squire that she was going away for several
months, and that she would undoubtedly send to him from time to time.

"My dear Miss Pettengill," replied the gallant Squire, "you shall have
all you ask for if I have to sell my best horse and mortgage my house.
But I don't think it will be necessary," he added. "Some more dividends
and interest have come in and I have more than a thousand dollars to
your credit now."

After the Squire had left, Alice told Quincy that her preparations were
all made, and that she would be ready to go to Boston the next day. The
mid-day train was fixed upon. After dinner that day, Quincy informed
Mrs. Hawkins that he wished to pay his bill in full, as he should leave
for good the next day.

Holding the money in her hand, Mrs. Hawkins entered the kitchen and
addressed Betsy.

"Just what I expected," said she; "jest as that Mr. Sawyer got to
stayin' home nights and eating his meals like a Christian, he ups an'
gits. I guess it'll be a dry summer. I kinder thought them two boys over
to the grocery would come here, but I understand they're goin' down to
Pettengill's, and somebody told me that Strout goes over to Eastborough
Centre every Sunday now. I s'pose he's tryin' to shine up again to that
Bessie Chisholm, that