But these dreams had vanished; the count's bailiff having seen Linda, the flower of the hamlet, became his rival, and consequently his enemy: he had bestowed the office promised to Carl upon another; and Linda's father ungratefully withdrawing the consent given when the lover's affairs were in a more flourishing condition, had forbidden him the house.

As soon as she saw her sister's signals the poor little thing blushed deeply again; down went her eyes once more, and her face and neck lighted up to the colour of Miss Linda's sham cornelian.

" "If I were willing to try it on others it would be cowardly for me to back out now," said Sacharissa, forcing a smile; for Destyn's and Linda's seriousness was beginning to make her a trifle uncomfortable.

"I don't believe it would," he said; "I'd only be switched on to Linda's current again."

She found it agreeable to be fussed over and comforted and cradled, and for a few moments she suffered Linda's solicitude and misgivings in silence.

Five minutes later they parted, he to take his car, and she to stroll in the opposite direction toward her friend Linda's house.

Once these two are married, they have startedAbbey père and mère will then be unable to frown on Linda's contemplated alliance with a family that's produced a divorce case.

Linda's voice greeted her when she answered.

Linda's entrance put a stop to her reading, without, however, changing the direction of her thought.

Linda's voice, continuing, broke into her thoughts.

Into Linda's life something big and elemental had come.

Linda's heart was unequivocally up there in the smoke and flame with her man, fighting for their mutual possessions, hoping with him, fearing for him, longing for him, secure in the knowledge that if nothing else was left them, they had each other.

There was a curious impersonality in Linda's manner, as if she stood aloof from it all, as if the fire of her vitality had burned out.

Linda's head drooped over the teacup.

As Albano and Linda walked on the mountain Epomeo, looking upon the coasts and promontories of that rare region, upon cities and sea, upon Vesuvius without flame or thunder, white with sand or snow, Albano's heart was an asbestos leaf written over and cast into the fireburning, not consuming; his whole former life went out, the leaf shone fiery and pure for Linda's hand.

He could mimic Albano's writing and voice; he knew of Linda's night-blindness.

Linda's homecoming.

Linda's homecoming.

" "But, Aunt Linda, if old Miss were able to take care of you, wouldn't you just as leave be back again?" There was a faint quiver of indignation in Aunt Linda's voice, as she replied: "Don't yer want yer freedom?

" "Why, is it possible," exclaimed Robert, rising, and shaking hands, "that you are Aunt Linda's husband?

" "But how came you to be Aunt Linda's husband?

Robert sat on her right hand, contrasting Aunt Linda's pleasant situation with the old days in Mrs. Johnson's kitchen, where he had played his pranks upon her, and told her the news of the war.

There was something so motherly in Aunt Linda's manner that it seemed to recall the bright, sunshiny days when she used to nestle in Mam Liza's arms, in her own happy home.

"Well, you oughter, ef you's mean enough to wote dat ticket ter put me back inter slavery," was Aunt Linda's parting shot.

After arriving home Linda's first thought was to prepare dinner for her guests.