der,--well, kinder crazy-like, you
know."

Eloise had heard many things said of her own eyes, but never before that
they were crazy-like, and did not feel greatly complimented. She
laughed, however, and said she would like to see the lady whose eyes
hers were like.

Before Mrs. Biggs could reply there was a step outside, and, tiptoeing
to the window, she exclaimed, in a whisper, "If I won't give it up,
there's the 'Piscopal minister, Mr. Mason, come to call on you! Ruby Ann
must of told him you belonged to 'em."

She dropped her knitting, and, hurrying to the door, admitted the Rev.
Arthur Mason, and ushered him at once into the room where Eloise was
sitting, saying as she introduced him, "I s'pose you have come to see
her."

It was an awkward situation for the young man, whose call was not
prompted by any thought of Eloise. His business was with Mrs. Biggs,
who had the reputation of being the parish register and town
encyclopaedia, from which information regarding everybody could be
gleaned, and he had come to her for information which he had been told
she could probably give him. He had been in Crompton but three months,
and had come there from a small parish in Virginia. On the first Sunday
when he officiated in St. John's he had noticed in the audience a tall,
aristocratic-looking man, with long white hair and beard, who made the
responses loud and in a tone which told the valuation he put upon
himself. In the same pew was a lady whose face attracted his attention,
it was so sweet and yet so sad, while the beautiful eyes, he was sure,
were sometimes full of tears as she listened with rapt attention to what
he was saying of our heavenly home, where those we have loved and lost
will be restored to us. It scarcely seemed possible, and yet he thought
there was a nod of assent, and was sure that a smile broke over her face
when he spoke of the first meeting of friends in the next world, the
mother looking for her child, and the child coming to the gates of
Paradise to meet its mother. Who was she, he wondered, and who was the
old man beside her, who held himself so proudly? He soon learned who
they were, and hearing that the Colonel was very lame, and the lady an
invalid, he took the initiative and called at the Crompton House. The
Colonel received him very cordially, and made excuses for Amy's
non-appearance, saying she was not quite herself and shy with strangers.
He was very affable, and evidently charmed with hi