164 THE SOUTH BAY. 



tons of his coat, it is not certain he took advantage 

 of these opportunities ; but suddenly starting into 

 life, she gave him a gentle tap on the ear, pulled 

 away, and turning to hide her blushes, called out, as 

 she darted from the room : 



" You must catch her first, and the train starts in 

 twenty minutes." 



" So it does," he muttered, as the delighted look 

 of admiration with which he had regarded her 

 faded slowly from his eyes; " what a darling witch, 

 it is so full of fun, and yet, as the neighboring poor 

 can testify, so gentle, generous, and sympathetic." 

 A thousand thoughts of all the loving acts he would 

 do for her came into his mind as he hastened towards 

 the depot. 



"Well, friend," said Mr. Hartley, as the two 

 deacons were journeying along at a sober gait in 

 the old-fashioned but comfortable buggy of the 

 wealthier, " what a beautiful day it is, not merely 

 for our sport, and it could hardly be better, but to 

 admire the beauties of nature ! The summer foliage 

 looks truly gorgeous in the broad sunshine." 



" Yes, indeed, and the influence of such a day 

 must be felt by the moral nature of man. Even upon 

 man debased by vice, I believe in the country as a 

 moral purifier, and think a system should be devised 

 by which criminals would be thrown in contact with 

 it as much as possible." 



" I agree with you fully, and had an evidence this 

 morning how it opens the heart and emboldens the 

 affections. You know Harry has long been atten- 



