ess of his mother, with a request
for his immediate presence at home. His extreme paleness and the
trembling hand, with which he in silence offered the open sheet for
the Doctor's persual were all the outward sign of his soul's agony;
agony for a beloved and dying mother; agony for the beloved, lost one,
for whom, in company with a few friends, he was about to go in quest.

While the Doctor was running over the communication, Edward tried to
calm the surging tempest within, sufficiently to decide him how to
act.

"Doctor," said he, "I must go to mother, can you, I know it will be
difficult, but _can_ you take my place in the company to-morrow?"

"I will go, and, by the love I bear your sister, I promise to do what
I can."

"Let me hear from you by mail," said Edward, wringing his hand.

Edward had now barely time to return to Pendleton, and hastily get his
trunk in readiness for the forthcoming steamer.

At the sound of the bell he was ready to embark and a few days rapid
travelling brought him worn and weary to the old homestead. It was
evening when he arrived, and, as he approached the house, he saw a
light in his mother's room. His apprehensions were so great that he
had not the courage to enter, and, listening near the window, he
distinguished his mother's voice in conversation with Louise.

"I would not be surprised to see him this very evening," he heard his
sister say.

"Miss Louise," called out Recta's familiar voice. "Miss Louise, won't
you please come here quick. Old Spot has got into the front yard;
there she is nibbling at that rose bush under the window. I can't see
nothing but the white spot in her face; but I know it must be her,
she's such an unruly critter; won't you just hold the light while I
hist her out?"

"O where's Lilly Foot," said Louise, "she'll drive her out while you
open the gate. Here, Lilly Foot."

Lilly Foot came growling along from the vicinity of the barn, where,
after the fatigue of bringing the cows from the distant meadow, she
had gone to rest and recruit for night watching.

Having forgotten at the beginning of our story to introduce Lilly Foot
under the family head we will pause for a moment and give her the
notice to which her position and worth entitle her. She was a very
respectable looking animal of the canine species originally coal black
with the exception of one white foot, from which she derived her name,
but now grown grey in the service of the family.

Fro