There! she bought that handsome sofa for herself a few years ago, an' she didn't need it more'n nothin' at all.

I suppose she thought Richard Alger was comin' steady, but now he's stopped." Rose was married in a few weeks.

The morning of the wedding-day Sylvia went into Berry's store and called William aside.
"If you can, I wish you'd come 'round by-an'-by with your horse an' your wood-sled," said she.
"Yes, guess I can; what is it you want ?" asked William, eying her curiously.

She was very pale; there were red circles around her eyes, and her mouth trembled.
"Oh, it ain't anything, only a little present I wanted to send to Rose," replied Sylvia.
"Well," said William, "I'll be along by-an'-by." He looked after her in a perplexed way as she went out.
Silas was in the back of the store, and presently he came forward.
"What she want you to do ?" he inquired of his son.
William told him.

The old man chuckled.