second one drove away she exclaimed, "Oh! what a lark! Those last
folks came in Aunt Ella's carriage, too. I bet Quincy and auntie have
put up some sort of a game on pa and ma. I won't go down stairs till
Quincy comes, for I want to give my new sister a hug and a squeeze and a
kiss, and I sha'n't dare to do it till Quincy has introduced her to pa
and ma."

At that moment the young man, faultlessly attired, came down stairs from
the third story, and Maude sprang out from her doorway on the second
floor and said in a whisper, "How long have you been home, Quincy?"

"I came in about half-past eleven," he replied.

"Oh, you rogue," cried Maude. "I have been watching out the window for
an hour. I see it all now, you don't mean to give pa and ma a chance to
say boo until after dinner. Let me go down first, Quincy."

Maude went down stairs and was duly presented to the assembled guests as
the youngest scion of the house of Sawyer.

At exactly five minutes of one Quincy entered the parlor through the
rear door. Aunt Ella and Alice were seated side by side between the two
front windows. As Quincy advanced he exchanged the compliments of the
season with the guests. Finally the Hon. Nathaniel and his son Quincy
stood facing Aunt Ella and Alice.

"Quincy," said his father, in slow, measured tones, "it gives me great
pleasure to present you to the, celebrated young author, Bruce Douglas."

Quincy bent low, and Alice inclined her head in acknowledgment. He
reached forward, clasped her hand in his and took his place by her
side. "Father, mother, and sisters," he cried, and there was a proud
tone in his clear, ringing voice, "there is still another presentation
to be made--that Christmas gift of which I spoke this morning at
breakfast. You see I hold this lady by the hand, which proves that we
are friends and not strangers. To her friends in the town of
Eastborough, where she was born, the daughter of an honest farmer, who
made a frugal living and no more, she was known by the name of Mary
Alice Pettengill. To the story and book-reading public of the United
States, she is known as Bruce Douglas, but to me she is known by the
sacred name of wife. I present to you as a Christmas gift, a daughter
and a sister."

There was a moment of suspense, and all eyes were fixed upon the parents
so dramatically apprised of their son's marriage. The Hon. Nathaniel
cleared his throat, and advancing slowly, took Alice's hand in his and
said, "I