some customer, he turned his attention to Edward.

"Come in, Mr. Sherman," said he, "I am at liberty now. That man Wycoff
has been quite an annoyance to me of late. He has no control over his
appetite, and consequently ought never to drink; but I can't refuse
him, and it wouldn't mend the matter if I did, for he can easily get
it elsewhere, and, perhaps, where no discrimination would be used, and
he would become too much intoxicated to get home at all; but drunken
loafers are not allowed to hang around here."

"I have brought some papers which I thought you might like to look
at," said Edward taking no notice of what the other had said.

"Thank you, Mr. Sherman, you had better come in a while. I have just
received some sherry said to be very fine. I would like your judgment
upon the quality of the article."

"Another time, Mr. Glutter; I am in something of a hurry to-day."

"Well, just wait a minute," said Hank, and he darted in and brought
out a bottle and slipped it in the corner of the sleigh under the
buffalo. "There," said he, "try it at your leisure, Mr. Sherman."

"Thank you, Mr. Glutter,--good day," and Edward hastened to the home
of Little Wolf.

When informed by Sorrel Top that Little Wolf had gone to Mr. Wycoff's
for Fanny, his pride was at the moment piqued; for he well knew that
she had reason to suppose that he would visit her that afternoon.
Since the memorable New Year's eve, when leaning upon Dr. Goodrich's
arm, she had so resolutely turned away from him, he felt that all was
not right between them; and he had looked forward with longing
impatience for the hour, when, once more alone with her, he could ask
an explanation. Although he was confident that she was then absent
purposely to avoid him, alarm for her safety overcame every other
feeling, and with a foreboding heart, he turned in the direction she
had taken.

From the top of the hill he saw enough to hasten him down to Daddy,
and from thence through snow and rocks to Little Wolf.

"Are you hurt, darling?" he said, eagerly grasping her hand.

Little Wolf uttered an exclamation of pain and fainted. Edward turned
pale. "Daddy," he shouted, throw down that bottle in the corner of the
sleigh."

"What is it you want fur to give her," said Daddy, doubtfully.

"It's wine; throw it down here quickly."

"She won't tech the infarnel stuff."

"She has fainted, you simpleton; give me the wine."

"'Tween you and me, there ain't no bottle here