Two days after Christmas a young man of serious aspect mighthave been seen entering one of the large churches at L - - . Beingshown to a seat, he joined in the services with praiseworthydevotion, especially the music, to which he listened with suchevident pleasure that a gentleman who sat nearby felt moved toaddress this appreciative stranger after church.

"Fine sermon today. Ever heard our minister before, sir?" hebegan, as they went down the aisle together among the last, for theyoung man had lingered as if admiring the ancient building.

"Very fine. No, sir, I have never had that pleasure. I've oftenwished to see this old place, and am not at all disappointed. Yourchoir, too, is unusually good," answered the stranger, glancing upat several bonnets bobbing about behind the half-drawn curtainsabove.

"Finest in the city, sir. We pride ourselves on our music, andalways have the best. People often come for that alone." And theold gentleman looked as satisfied as if a choir of cherubim andseraphim "continually did cry" in his organ loft.

"Who is the contralto? That solo was beautifully sung," observedthe younger man, pausing to read a tablet on the wall.

"That is Miss Moore. Been here about a year, and is universallyadmired. Excellent young lady couldn't do without her. Singssuperbly in oratorios. Ever heard her?"

"Never. She came from X, I believe?

"Yes, highly recommended. She was brought up by one of the firstfamilies there. Campbell is the name. If you come from X , youdoubtless know them."

"I have met them. Good morning." And with bows the gentlemenparted, for at that instant the young man caught sight of a tall ladygoing down the church steps with a devout expression in her fineeyes and a prayer-book in her hand.

Hastening after her, the serious-minded young man accosted herjust as she turned into a quiet street.

"Phebe!"

Only a word, but it wrought a marvelous change, for the devoutexpression vanished in the drawing of a breath, and the quiet faceblossomed suddenly with color, warmth, and "the light that neverwas on sea or land" as she turned to meet her lover with ananswering word as eloquent as his.

"Archie!"

"The year is out today. I told you I should come. Have youforgotten?"

"No I knew you'd come."

"And are you glad?"

"How can I help it?"

"You can't don't try. Come into this little park and let us talk." Anddrawing her hand through his arm, Archie led her into what toother eyes was a very dismal square, with a boarded-up fountain inthe middle, sodden grass plots, and dead leaves dancing in thewintry wind.

But to them it was a summery Paradise, and they walked to and froin the pale sunshine, quite unconscious that they were objects ofinterest to several ladies and gentlemen waiting anxiously for theirdinner or yawning over the dull books kept for Sunday reading. "Are you ready to come home now, Phebe?" asked Archie tenderlyas he looked at the downcast face beside him and wondered whyall women did not wear delightful little black velvet bonnets withone deep red flower against their hair.

"Not yet. I haven't done enough," began Phebe, finding it very hardto keep the resolution made a year ago.

"You have proved that you can support yourself, make friends, andearn a name, if you choose. No one can deny that, and we are allgetting proud of you. What more can you ask, my dearest?"

"I don't quite know, but I am very ambitious. I want to be famous,to do something for you all, to make some sacrifice for Rose, and,if I can, to have something to give up for your sake. Let me waitand work longer I know I haven't earned my welcome yet,"pleaded Phebe so earnestly that her lover knew it would be in vainto try and turn her, so wisely contented himself with half, since hecould not have the whole.

"Such a proud woman! Yet I love you all the better for it, andunderstand your feeling. Rose made me see how it seems to you,and I don't wonder that you cannot forget the unkind things thatwere looked, if not said, by some of my amiable aunts. I'll try to bepatient on one condition, Phebe."

"And what is that?"

"You are to let me come sometimes while I wait, and wear this lestyou should forget me," he said, pulling a ring from his pocket andgently drawing a warm, bare hand out of the muff where it layhidden.

"Yes, Archie, but not here not now!" cried Phebe, glancing abouther as if suddenly aware that they were not alone.

"No one can see us here I thought of that. Give me one happyminute, after this long, long year of waiting," answered Archie,pausing just where the fountain hid them from all eyes, for therewere houses only on one side.

Phebe submitted and never did a plain gold ring slip more easily toits place than the one he put on in such a hurry that cold Decemberday. Then one hand went back into the muff red with the grasp hegave it, and the other to its old place on his arm with a confidinggesture, as if it had a right there.

"Now I feel sure of you," said Archie as they went on again, and noone the wiser for that tender transaction behind the ugly pyramidof boards. "Mac wrote me that you were much admired by yourchurch people, and that certain wealthy bachelors evidently haddesigns on the retiring Miss Moore. I was horribly jealous, but nowI defy every man of them."

Phebe smiled with the air of proud humility that was so becomingand answered briefly: "There was no danger kings could notchange me, whether you ever came or not. But Mac should nothave told you."

"You shall be revenged on him, then, for, as he told secrets aboutyou, I'll tell you one about him. Phebe, he loves Rose!" And Archielooked as if he expected to make a great sensation with his news.

"I know it." And Phebe laughed at his sudden change ofcountenance as he added inquiringly, "She told you, then?"

"Not a word. I guessed it from her letters, for lately she saysnothing about Mac, and before there was a good deal, so Isuspected what the silence meant and asked no questions."

"Wise girl! Then you think she does care for the dear old fellow?"

"Of course she does. Didn't he tell you so?"

"No, he only said when he went away, 'Take care of my Rose, andI'll take care of your Phebe,' and not another thing could I get outof him, for I did ask questions. He stood by me like a hero, andkept Aunt Jane from driving me stark mad with her 'advice.' I don'tforget that, and burned to lend him a hand somewhere, but hebegged me to let him manage his wooing in his own way. Andfrom what I see, I should say he knew how to do it," added Archie,finding it very delightful to gossip about love affairs with hissweetheart.

"Dear little mistress! How does she behave?" asked Phebe, longingfor news, but too grateful to ask at headquarters, remembering howgenerously Rose had tried to help her, even by silence, the greatestsacrifice a woman can make at such interesting periods.

"Very sweet and shy and charming. I try not to watch but upon myword I cannot help it sometimes, she is so 'cunning,' as you girlssay. When I carry her a letter from Mac she tries so hard not toshow how glad she is that I want to laugh and tell her I know allabout it. But I look as sober as a judge and as stupid as an owl bydaylight, and she enjoys her letters in peace and thinks I'm soabsorbed in my own passion that I'm blind to hers."

"But why did Mac come away? He says lectures brought him, andhe goes, but I am sure something else is in his mind, he looks sohappy at times. I don't see him very often, but when I do I'mconscious that he isn't the Mac I left a year ago," said Phebe,leading Archie away, for inexorable propriety forbade a longerstay, even if prudence and duty had not given her a remindingnudge, as it was very cold, and afternoon church came in an hour.

"Well, you see Mac was always peculiar, and he cannot even growup like other fellows. I don't understand him yet, and am sure he'sgot some plan in his head that no one suspects, unless it is UncleAlec. Love makes us all cut queer capers, and I've an idea that theDon will distinguish himself in some uncommon way. So beprepared to applaud whatever it is. We owe him that, you know."

"Indeed we do! If Rose ever speaks of him to you, tell her I shallsee that he comes to no harm, and she must do the same for myArchie."

That unusual demonstration of tenderness from reserved Phebevery naturally turned the conversation into a more personalchannel, and Archie devoted himself to building castles in the airso successfully that they passed the material mansion withouteither being aware of it.

"Will you come in?" asked Phebe when the mistake was rectifiedand she stood on her own steps looking down at her escort, whohad discreetly released her before a pull at the bell caused fiveheads to pop up at five different windows.

"No, thanks. I shall be at church this afternoon, and the oratoriothis evening. I must be off early in the morning, so let me make themost of precious time and come home with you tonight as I didbefore," answered Archie, making his best bow, and quite sure ofconsent.

"You may." And Phebe vanished, closing the door softly, as if shefound it hard to shut out so much love and happiness as that in theheart of the sedate young gentleman who went briskly down thestreet humming a verse of old "Clyde" like a tuneful bass viol:

That afternoon Miss Moore sang remarkably well, and thatevening quite electrified even her best friends by the skill andpower with which she rendered "Inflammatus" in the oratorio.

"If that is not genius, I should like to know what it is?" said oneyoung man to another as they went out just before the generalcrush at the end.

"Some genius and a great deal of love. They are a grand team, and,when well driven, astonish the world by the time they make in thegreat race," answered the second young man with the look of oneinclined to try his hand at driving that immortal span.

"Daresay you are right. Can't stop now she's waiting for me. Don'tsit up, Mac."

"The gods go with you, Archie."

And the cousins separated one to write till midnight, the other tobid his Phebe good-bye, little dreaming how unexpectedly andsuccessfully she was to earn her welcome home.