THE sun was unclouded and the young man soon found the heat intolerable. He leaped the wall into a newly mown field and took a direct line for the stone cottage, becoming every moment more visible. At the distance of two or three hundred rods from the house was the grove of lindens the driver had pointed out. On one side was a patch of delicious green turf, soft and smooth as velvet, where in the shade formed by a cluster of young spruces, lay a couple of Jersey calves, chewing their cuds as they calmly viewed the magnificent prospect. These creatures were so tame that they did not move when the stranger approached and patted their heads; they only raised their meek eyes wishfully to his face. Approaching the front door, which stood wide open, not a sign of life was visible about the premises. Even the stranger's loud ring brought no one to answer his summons. Tired of waiting, he ventured into a wide hall which the air from the river rendered deliciously cool. This hall extended through the centre of the house uninterrupted by staircase; and was hung with fine old pictures, and maps. A large mahogany table, with spread leaves, and claw feet, stood near the back door which was of glass and opened upon another plateau of grass, interspersed with small beds of well cultivated flowers. The table was covered with a handsome woollen cloth; and upon it stood a silver ice pitcher on a huge salver; which also supported two silver goblets. Laying his bags in one of the heavy leather-covered chairs, our traveller took a long draught of the ice water with which the pitcher had been lately filled; and having smoothed his locks by the small mirror set in the hat-rack made his way into an open room on the left hand of the hall. Here he found additional evidence of refinement and taste. On one side of the spacious apartment was an elegantly carved book case; and through the glass in front, rows of well bound volumes were visible. Between the windows a long mirror descended from the roof to a marble slab about two feet from the floor, upon which slab lay a child's hat, tied with blue ribbons. On the marble mantel; on the tables; and every where that they could be placed, stood vases of flowers exquisitely arranged. The fragrance of roses, heliotrope, mignionette and other varieties, would have been oppressive but for the air which stole in through the Venetian blinds. A well pleased smile played about the mouth of the stranger, as he gazed leisurely around. "A fancy nook Ned has here," he said to himself. "If I had another like it, and a wife to welcome me home after the trials of the day, I'd ask nothing more of fortune." Leaning back in the luxurious chair which held out its arms so invitingly, he began to wonder how it happened that no one was at home. Gradually his thoughts became more indistinct, and he slept.