. Under the leadership of the town officers they turned their
steps first towards the new library. On entering this handsome building,
they observed hung over the balcony, facing them, a large oil painting
of a beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed woman, dressed in satin and velvet
and ermine, and having a coronet upon her head. Underneath was a tablet
bearing an inscription.

"An admirable portrait," said Quincy to his wife. "Can you read the
tablet, dear? I fear I shall really have to see Dr. Tillotson about my
eyes."

Alice smiled at the allusion, and directing her gaze upon it, read
without the slightest hesitation: "Linda Putnam, once a resident of this
town, now Countess of Sussex, and donor of this library building, which
is named in honor of her father, Charles Chessman, only brother of
Robert Chessman."

During the evening festivities the Town Hall was brilliantly lighted,
and every seat in the galleries and coigns of vantage were occupied. The
guests at the banquet numbered fully sixty. A Boston caterer, with a
corps of trained waiters, had charge of the dinner. During its progress
the Cottonton Brass Band performed at intervals. They were stationed in
Putnam Square, and the music was not an oppressive and disturbing
element, as it often is at close range on such occasions.

When coffee was served, Toastmaster Obadiah Strout, Esq., arose, and the
eyes of banqueters and sightseers were turned toward him.

"This is a glorious day in the history of our town," the toastmaster
began, "The pleasant duty has fallen to me of proposing the toasts to
which we shall drink, and of introducing our honored guests one by one.
I know that words of advice and encouragement will come from them. But
before I perform the duties that have been allotted to me, it is my
privilege to make a short address. Instead of doing so, I shall tell you
a little story, and it will be a different kind of a story from what I
have been in the habit of telling."

This remark caused an audible titter to arise from some of the auditors
in the galleries, and Abner Stiles, who was sitting behind Mrs. Hawkins,
leaned over and said to her, "I guess he's goin' to tell a true story."

The toastmaster continued: "More than six years ago a young man from the
city arrived in this town. It was given out that he came down here for
his health, but he wasn't so sick but that he could begin to take an
active part in town affairs as soon as he got here. They say