ything. There's things in the trunk she needs;
you know how you overlooked stoppin' to the milliner's for my bunnit
last week."

"Other folks disremembers things as well's me," grumbled Mr. Marsh. He
turned to give the passengers another wink more familiar than the
first, but they wore an offended air, and were looking the other way.
The horses had backed a few steps, and the guest at the front window
had ceased the steady motion of her fan to make them a handsome bow,
and been puzzled at the lofty manner of their acknowledgment.

"Go 'long with your foolish jokes, John Ma'sh!" Mrs. Beckett said
cheerfully, as she turned away. She was a comfortable, hearty person,
whose appearance adjusted the beauties of hospitality. The driver
climbed to his seat, chuckling, and drove away with the dust flying
after the wheels.

"Now, she's a friendly sort of a woman, that Mis' Beckett," said
Mrs. Flagg unexpectedly, after a few moments of silence, when she and
her friend had been unable to look at each other. "I really ought to
call over an' see her some o' these days, knowing her husband's folks
as well as I used to, an' visitin' of 'em when I was a girl." But Miss
Pickett made no answer.

"I expect it was all for the best, that woman's comin'," suggested
Mrs. Flagg again hopefully. "She looked like a willing person who
would take right hold. I guess Mis' Beckett knows what she's about,
and must have had her reasons. Perhaps she thought she'd chance it for
a couple o' weeks anyway, after the lady'd come so fur, an' bein' one
o' her own denomination. Hayin'-time'll be here before we know it. I
think myself, gen'rally speakin', 't is just as well to let anybody
know you're comin'."

"Them seemed to be Mis' Cap'n Timms's views," said Miss Pickett in a
low tone; but the stage rattled a good deal, and Mrs. Flagg looked up
inquiringly, as if she had not heard.

A NEIGHBOR'S LANDMARK.

The timber-contractor took a long time to fasten his horse to the ring
in the corner of the shed; but at last he looked up as if it were a
matter of no importance to him that John Packer was coming across the
yard. "Good-day," said he; "good-day, John." And John responded by an
inexpressive nod.

"I was goin' right by, an' I thought I'd stop an' see if you want to
do anything about them old pines o' yourn."

"I don't know's I do, Mr. Ferris," said John stiffly.

"Well, that business is easy finished," said the contractor, with a
careless ai