confession
is good for the soul, and I'm goin' to confess that I didn't take to
this young man. I thought he was a city swell, who had come down here to
show off, and in company with several friends, who looked at his visit
down here about the same as I did, we did all we could for a couple of
months to try and drive him out of town. Now I am comin' to the point
that I want to make. If we had let him alone the chances are that he
wouldn't have stayed here more than a month any way. Now, s'posen he had
gone home at the end of the month; in that case he never would have met
the lady who sits by his side to-night, and who by her marriage has
added new lustre to her native town. If he had not remained, she never
would have written those stories which are known the world over, and I
tell you, fellow-citizens, that in writing Blennerhassett, An American
Countess, The Majesty of the Law, and The Street Boy, she has done more
to make this town famous than all the men who were ever born in it."

The speaker paused and drank a glass of water, while cheers and applause
came from all parts of the gallery. Abner Stiles apparently forgot his
surroundings, and, thinking probably that it was a political rally,
called out, "Three cheers for Alice Pettengill"! which were given with a
will, much to his delight, and the surprise of the banqueters.

The toastmaster resumed: "If he had gone away disgusted with the town
and its people, he never would have found out who Linda Putnam really
was, and she, consequently, would never have been what she is to-day, a
peeress of England and the great benefactress of this town, a lady who
will always have our deepest affection and most sincere gratitude."

Again the orator paused, and the audience arose to its feet. Applause,
cheers, and the waving of handkerchiefs attested that the speaker's
words had voiced the popular feeling. Once more Abner Stiles's voice
rose above the din, and three cheers for "Lindy Putnam, Countess of
Sussex," were given with such a will that the band outside caught the
enthusiasm and played "God Save the Queen," which most of the audience
supposed was "America."

"In conclusion," said the orator, "I have one more point to make, and
that is a purely personal one. Some writer has said the end justifies
the means, and another writer puts it this way, 'Do evil that good may
come.' In these two sayin's lies all the justification for many sayin's
and doin's that can be found; a