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 reach your poor mother's ears, Misthress Susan," said Biddy, officiously placing her nicely browned waffles and shining tea-urn on the table.

The young husband and wife commenced eating their supper, thinking it quite likely that Nattie would come in and take her usual place before the meal was over. But she did not come. Supper was cleared away, the doctor made the evening call, the clock pointed to the hour of nine; still, no Nattie. The house, barn and grounds were carefully searched. She was nowhere about the premises. Biddy was wild. It was necessary to keep her out of the sick-room, for the fright and terror of her honest face would be marked by the faintest eye.

"She must be sperited away," said the ignorant, superstitious girl; "for she never could have put herself out o' sight and hearin' so quick, without help. I'm sore afraid we never shall lay eyes on Miss Nattie again. Bad she was, at times, for shure, but then, a bright, gay creathur, afther all, and