ferent kinds which were
left and given either to the poor or to the Charitable Society in
Crompton. The trunks containing Amy's dresses had been sent home without
Amy's knowledge, and deposited in the closet with Mandy Ann and Judy,
the Colonel swearing at first that he would have nothing pertaining to
Homer Smith so near him. The apron sale had been an absorbing topic of
conversation, the people wondering what Mr. Harcourt was going to do
with his purchase, and if he wouldn't give it back to Eloise. Nothing
was further from his thought. He had bought it to keep, and he laid it
away in the bottom of his trunk with the handkerchief Eloise had used
when he first called upon her.

He was growing more and more in love with her and more unwilling to
leave Crompton. He had already staid longer than he had at first
intended, but it did not need Howard's urgent invitation for him to
prolong his visit. Every day he went to Mrs. Biggs's, and sometimes
twice a day, and took Eloise out in her arm-chair for an airing,--once
as far as to the school-house where Ruby Ann still presided, and where
Eloise hoped soon to take up her duties. She was very happy, or would
have been if she could have heard from California. Every day she hoped
for news, and every day was disappointed, until at last nearly a week
after the Rummage a letter came forwarded by her grandmother from
Mayville. It was from a physician to whom Eloise had twice written with
regard to her mother, and this was his reply:

"Portland, Oregon, September --, 18--.

"My Dear Miss Smith:

"I left San Francisco several months ago and have been stopping in
several places, and that is why your letters were so long in reaching
me. They both came in the same mail, and I wrote to San Francisco to see
what I could learn with regard to your mother. It seems that the private
asylum of Dr. Haynes was broken up, as there were only three patients
when Mrs. Smith left, and it did not pay. Soon after your father died in
Santa Barbara, your mother was removed from the asylum by a gentleman
whose name I have thus far been unable to learn. I thought it must have
been some relative, but if you know nothing of it my theory is wrong.
Dr. Haynes went at once with his family to Europe, and is travelling on
the continent. His address is, Care of Munroe & Co., Bankers, 7 Rue
Scribe. Paris. Write him again, as he must know who took your mother
from his care. He may not be in Paris now, but your lett