ld-fashioned straight backed
chairs,--this being the only room in the house, to which the
progressive spirit had not yet extended, except, indeed, that which
was manifested in the cut glass decanters, standing _empty_ on the
handsome sideboard.

A deep convulsive sob broke from Mrs. Sherman, and the merriment
instantly ceased. The mother leaned forward and covering her face with
her hands, gave vent to her long suppressed feelings. Edward was by
her side in an instant, and throwing his arms around her neck,
exclaimed:

"Mother, I will not leave you!"

"Then I can't go alone," whispered George Goodrich to Louise.

"Ma," said Louise, "Dr. Goodrich says he will stay, too."

"No, not quite that," said the embarrassed lover.

"O, you must both go," interrupted Mrs. Sherman, recovering with an
effort her presence of mind; "and we are wasting precious time," she
continued, pointing to the clock, with returning firmness.

The old clock which occupied one corner in seven feet grandeur, would
as soon have thought of stopping to indulge in sighs and tears, as
would Mrs. Sherman, when her spirit was moved to the necessity for
action. So, all the scruples of her son were peremptorily shut out of
existence, and Recta, frowned into silence, withheld the probe, which,
having fallen into the common error, she had mistaken for the healing
salve.

In passing briefly over the season of parting, there is an item which
should claim special attention for a moment, as it is intimately
connected with the destination of our adventurers.

As Edward stood by the family carriage, which was to transport them to
the public conveyance, while waiting for his friend, who had
appropriated to himself a private moment with Louise, Mrs. Sherman
inquired rather anxiously, "Edward, have you that letter?"

"Yes, mother," and, more to fill up an unpleasant gap of time than to
prove his veracity, he produced from his pocket the missive. It was
superscribed, "Dr. DeWolf, Chimney Rock, Minnesota Territory."

Prompted by the same motive which had actuated the other, Mrs. Sherman
repeated some of her previous instructions.

"Now, Edward, when you arrive at Penddleton, by all means make an
immediate effort to discover the whereabouts of Dr. DeWolf. I should
much like to hear from your father's early friend. I think he states,
in the only letter we have ever received from him, that he has fixed
his home at Chimney Rock, in the vicinity of Pendleton. How