ing from tree top to tree top, their song intermittent: the vesper service of insects already commenced. For central point, a figure in the ripeness of beautiful womanhood leisurely pacing the open between. the cliff verge and the thickening growth of forest trees a rood beyond.

Mr. Kingston had carried this picture upon his heart since its first impress, and the time had now come when he could carry it as a doubt no longer. Better the pain. of defeat than the disquiet of uncertainty.

Arabella greeted him with a warm hand clasp. His presence always brought her confidence, rest. At this moment his coming was Beulah, a haven of rest for tortured thought.

Like King Henry, when wooing the Princess Katherine, Mr. Kingston knew "no ways to mince it in love," so straightway he told his tale in a direct, manly fashion.

The hope of winning her for his wife had been his dream since he first made her acquaintance. He knew his personal unworthiness, and the unworthiness of his position. He could give her competence, but neither wealth nor luxury. His wife must be a helpmeet in the struggle of life. When she first went away he had thought to go forth and battle for money as she was battling for an education, for she was worthy the environments of a queen, and he would gladly surround her with such. But he dared not narrow his soul to the accumulation of gold. To cheat, to prevaricate, to dream how he could best out-wit his fellow man, to grind his ignorant brother to longer hours of labor at less

wages, all the time heaping up his own coffers, were poor preparation for making himself worthy to wear a jewel of the rarest type! He paused, his every fibre palpitating for her answer. He had confidence in his manhood, in his purpose of life: but life apart from her would have dreary significance.

Arabella answered slowly, and with evident thought:-"It is very pleasant to have you for a friend," and she gave him her hand. "Let me say, dear friend." But kindly as were her words, her manner was not such as to inspire confidence in her intention.

"Do not answer me to-night," he hastened to add. "I am afraid I have been premature, if six years' patient waiting can be called such." Both smiled at the contradiction. "At any rate, evidently I find you at a disadvantage," he added. "Take your own time to consider the subject, only remember the vital importance your decision has for me."

Again she thanked him, then her mother's signal, the bell, sounded a grateful call, which she obeyed, while he descended the cliff on the further side.

Mrs. Thompson wondered why Mr. Kingston did not stop to supper. She had laid the table with company china, and she "wondered" if he would not come back later. But when he did not appear she followed her daughter to her room for the purpose of relieving her mind on two subjects that had heavily weighed thereon for several days.

"Arabella, you have settled down so contented that I do hope you've given up all idea of going back to college. This is your right place.

Your father and I need you. We are getting old-I might say we have got old. We're lonesome. What's the good of the worry and work of bringing up a child to leave you as soon as she is old enough to be of any comfort? Don't any of your books teach that a child's first duty is to its parents? And if, as I suppose some of your high flown professors would say, you lack scope with only us old folks, there is one who lives not far away who would give his very eyes for the privilege of taking care of you, or of letting you take care of him, which, as I understand, is more in the line of the modern woman. He is the best man I ever met and nothing would make your father so happy as to see you settled down so near us."

Having thus relieved her mind, Mrs. Thompson kissed her daughter good night and departed. "Has a reflex of his magnetic personality touched mother, that she divines his wish, and must needs sing his praises so warmly on this night of all nights?" mused Arabella.

She sat by the open window and repeatedly went over the ground she counselled with pleasure, she heard the argument of duty, she gave ambition a voice, and listened to the enticing whisper of love. She ignored self, and took counsel how she would advise another. The setting moon found her no nearer a decision than had the setting sun. But the walls of her room suffocated her. They prisoned thought. It was only "up top" that she could intelligently grasp the magnitude of the question. So she threw a shawl about her, stole softly from the house and ascended the hill. The night was surpassingly calm.

No dew had fallen, and the path was as dry as was her chamber floor. Glimmering stars gave a sense of companionship. She paced the oft trod path, then rested on the rustic bench only to rise and walk again.

With the boundless heavens fo: canopy, her thought took broader, deeper scope. The advantages of each position for self were merged into an honest, fervent desire to help those less capable of helping themselves than she. How happy to be able to endow colleges, to help orphanages, to support homes for the aged. How blessed the ability to assist in every worthy cause presented! What nobler task I could earth offer than to be the almoner of wealth? But the great model master chose to set an example that those most scantily furnished with this world's goods could be brought into closer contact with mankind. Pulse to pulse, she could establish a chain of influence that would widen in endless ramifications throughout the cycles of time, even into eternity.

Wife and mother, the crowning, queenly gift to womanhood, heaven bestowed. Her heart paused, faint at the honor. Who dares take the responsibility of refusal?

When the sun's red disc painted the eastern sky, Arabella's mind was at peace, for, for weal or for woe, her choice was made. Did she choose the brooding wings of love? Or did wealth entice her with its glittering thrall? Or was she lured by philanthropy, born of ambition and its attendant homage, though regenerate by grace?

Gentle Reader,whichsoever course you would have chosen, such was our heroine's decision.

Temperance Pratt Reed, a member of the Colony Committe of the National Society has been residing there the past year; and through her influence invitations were sent out which convened about thirty-five New England Women to meet Miss Lindley on her way to New York. She gave

on

a pleasing and comprehensive talk the aims and purposes of the Society, answering many questions relative to eligibility and the proper method of filling out the membership blanks.

The following officers were elected: President, Miss Temperance Pratt Reed; 1st Vice President, Miss Harriet May Barlow; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Ella Ford Bennett; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Monroe Wolverton; Corresponding Secretary. Miss Grace Jennings; Treasurer, Mrs. S. H. Waring; Chairman of the Board of Managers, Mrs. Bailey Hitchcock.

Those present at this first meeting were: Mrs. Bailey Hitchcock, Mrs. Justice H. Bowman, Mrs. M. V. Barbour, Mrs. Ferdinand Welch, Mrs. Edwin Jackson, Misses Maria and Alice Waite, Mrs. H. Waring, Mrs. John B. Bell, Mrs. E. B. Field, Miss Alice Campbell, Mrs. Emma Leidy, Mrs. Homer Comstock, Mrs. Harriet May Barlow, Mrs. E. P. Hickox, Mrs. Charles A. Merrill, Mrs. C. E. Browning, Mrs. Mary Wood Yeager, Mrs. Ella Ford-Bennett, Mrs. Edwin Hale Jewett, Mrs. Lillian Read, Mrs. S. J. Hall and several others.

A meeting with equally good results was held by Miss Lindley at the Colonial Hotel, Cleveland. On account of lack of time in which to elect their officers it will not be possible to publish the list in this issue. Mrs. Francis E. Shippard is Chairman pro tem and is thoroughly capable of handling the work not only as an organizer and a parliamentarian but also as a thorough New Englander in heart and brain. Their charter membership includes many distinguished women among whom are Mrs. James M. Bryer, President of Cleveland Sorosis, Mrs. W. G. Rose, President of the International Health Protective Association and Miss Marshall Honk a wellknown pen-woman.

The officers of Buffalo, Colony Two, entertained Mrs. Seward and Miss Lindley most delightfully on their way east from the Biennial. Unfortunately their visits were not made at the same time hence separate functions were arranged for each guest. The following report has been forwarded by their Secretary.

"The month of June will be marked with a red letter in Colony Two's calendar inasmuch as two members of the Parent Society stopped over in Buffalo on their return from the Federation Meeting at St. Paul. The National President, Mrs. Theodore F. Seward was the guest of honor at a luncheon given by the Board of Managers at the Park Club on Wednesday, June 12. On the

following Tuesday, Miss E. Marguerite Lindley, Chairman of the Colony Committe and Miss Adele Lindley Sumner, who represented Brooklyn, Colony Eight. were entertained with a trolley ride to Niagara Falls, followed by a luncheon at 'The Lochiel' and later by a visit to the home of one of the members, Miss Elizabeth C. Trott, who gave the party this opportunity to inspect her unusually fine collection of New England antiques-heirlooms in the Winslow family. Miss Trott is a descendant of John Winslow and Mary Chilton and owns the original diary of Anna Green Winslow which has been given to the world of letters by Alice Morse Earle. It was a great pleasure to the officers and other members of the Board to entertain these guests and a matter for regret that it was not possible to give all the members this opportunity.

Washington, Colony Four, as usual holds her own in response to all interests that concern the New England Fraternity. She reports as follows:-"The regular monthly meeting for June was held at Elywood Farm, the home of a member, Mrs. Mary F. Gibson, Vienna, Virginia, June 19, 1906. The ladies being invited to luncheon left Washington in the morning. The exercises of the day were opened by Mrs. Julia T. Bodfish, singing the song entitled, 'I live for those who love me the regular routine business was transacted, followed by a most delightful luncheon, then came the literary hour when the hostess, Mrs. Gibson, related the history of her house, a portion of which had been built before the Revolutionary period, had therefore passed through the wars of the Revolution, 1812, and of the Rebellion and from its history one might say had seen active service in all three wars. Other members recited interesting anecdotes. The poems read were original. Mrs. Logan read a poem entitled Johnny Appleseed.' Mrs. Gilfillan read a short history of the first meeting of the Parent Society in New York. It was an ideal meeting for the last of the season. The Colony adjourned until October."

The meeting of the Washington Colony previous to this was held at the residence of Mrs. J. A. Gilfillan. The literary program was one of the finest given and consisted of a paper by Mrs. Lydia I. Y. Wythee on the founding of Salem Colony, Massachusetts, in 1628, which was ably prepared and rendered. Mrs. Ellis Logan gave an equally creditable paper on the "History of Roger Williams" and his founding of the Colony at Providence, Rhode Island. Hon. Charles Lyman also addressed the Colony on its success as to the study of Colonial history; he also touched upon that history and what has developed from it. Mrs. Bertha Robbins, (ex-President, 1905-6) read a poem en

titled "The First Plymouth Marriage" by Ralph Shaw. A social hour with light refreshments followed.

It may be of help to Colonies who are planning their year's work to suggest that

they confer with the Washington Colony, Mrs. C. David White, 1459 Girard street, (President, Colony Four, National Society of New England Women), regarding their study on early New England history.

A year ago the editor, who had heard much of the "vision of New Clairvaux" and had read many accounts of the work being done there, went to Montague to see for himself the things of which he had read. He went full of kindly interest in, indeed enthusiasm for, the ideals set forth and hoping to see evidence of what the many accounts gave as actually being done there. He spent a day in seeing all there was to see and in interviewing such people as he could find connected with the work, including its founder and chief exponent, Mr. Pressey. On his return he set forth in what he believed to be a kindly spirit, the results as he saw them. This was embodied in an article on "Country College Settlements" which appeared in the New England for January, 1906. The article excited considerable interest and was duly commented on by the newspapers of the region, including the Springfield Republican. These comments upheld his view of the matter, so far as he saw them. He still believes that his criticisms, so far as he criticised, were deserved. With the vision he has no quarrel, nor indeed with the intent of those who have sought to carry it out. He thought then and he thinks now that a vision is one thing and its fulfilment another and to set forth the vision in such terms that it seems to the casual reader an actual fulfilment. seemed to be done in some of the articles on "New Clairvaux" which he had read was not fair to the faithful who believe in visions and hope earnestly for their fulfilment. In his article he took care to set forth the condition and not the theory. Mr. Pressey in the following communication criticises the critic and in the interests of fair play his statement is given in full. The editor assumes to be neither judge nor jury. He gave his testimony in the January number of the New England and, referring his readers to it, is willing they should draw their own conclusions.

as

every undertaking has a beginning, a middle and an end.

I went out in the world to seek my fortune as they say when I was some months over ten years old. I got a thorough discipline at several kinds of farming; and prepared for college while the hired men slept. I did not do this of my own sheer will-a vision led me on.

and

Between the ages of nineteen twenty-five I was getting training in business and working my way through Harvard University, working myself in two shifts of eight and nine hours each. I do not recollect my college days with any pleasure, but with some satisfaction because the path of the vision led through that way.

At twenty-five I entered the Unitarian ministry. I had to do with founding a new church in Connecticut which has since flourished. I settled and preached for four years in a hill parish and married a girl whose father had followed a vision similar to my own for thirty-five years. And she shared the vision.

The union of two visions by slow degrees led me to the most laborious period of my life. About this time while I was plodding through the routine of parish duties I wrote out in the form of a vision certain things which had been gathering and been burning at my heart since I was nine years old, to be read as a mere literary entertainment, a sort of midsummer night's dream, under the chestnut trees by an old New England house set on a hill. It was taken seriously by some, though I do not know why. I afterwards myself took it seriously. I called it the "Vision of New Clairvaux. It was reprinted nearly in full in the January New England.

The connection between this vision and what we are doing at Montague is of course one of poetry and suggestion and not literal. Nevertheless it must be said, the vision itself was an evolution of a dreamer's fancy of a model town, through nearly twenty-five years of dreaming and knocking up practically against a material world eight or more hours a day through it all.