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which we all joined.
IL suppose was very rude," said Miss
Derry, "but the deed is done, and l guess
we'll 20 in and have some lunch"
"If she would only not say, guess, ,"
whispered her mother. at is quite pie
beian.'
We found Mr.. Skidmore q delightful ad'
dition to our party. OF good family.
wealthy, a thorough man of the world, and
handsome, he had everything in his favor
The Derrys were, to use Victoria's phrase
ology, cover head and ears in love with
him." and the gentlemen voted him capi-
tai fellow. He played croquet with a
steady arm and never-failing stroke, rowed
we'll, sang delicious little songs in tender
manly voice, read aloud when it was toe
hot for exercise, and made himself Il most
attractive companion. Ffbm the first he
seemed to positively dislike plain Miss
Carew. In our games he avoided her no.
ticeably, never willingly looking at or
speaking to her. Did she propose an excur-
sion, he declined to participate; did she
sing sweet, old-fashioned songs we liked so
much, he left the room. One evening she
had crimson rosebuds in her hair, and he
said crimson rosebuds were his special
aversion. Once in stepping from the boat,
coming from sail, he offered his hand to
assist her, and almost flung her ashore. He
seemed to have taken an unaccountable an
tipathy to her.
One morning I was braiding my hair
when there came a rap on my door, and
Miss Carew asked to come in. She was
dressed in q blue flannel boating suit, and a
white sundown was pulled down over her
face. Knots of scarlet ribbon were on her
sleeves and down the front of her dress. |
noticed an unusual color in the brown
cheeks, and her brown eyes were moist
looking.
"You have been crying, Miss Carew," l
said; "are you unhappy
"Not exactly unhappy. Miss Arden" she
answered, in her slow, sweet, legato voice.
"Only troubled, and rather vexed."
"Can l help you?"
"No, thank you. You are very kind, but
it is nothing, after all. l came to ask if
YOU will be good enough to let me take your
umbrella? l am going to the east shore
and have been stupid enough to let Miss
Derry take mine
"Certainly," said j." and if youA"
A loud, boyish laug h interrupted me.
"Now. let me in, quick I've something
to tell you, Miss Arden" and May Derry
burst into the room. "Ive found out all
about Miss Carew," she said, breathlessly,
:" and why Mr.. Skidmore hates her and all.
have Just Oh, Miss Carew!' she cried,
Il didn't see you. I beg your pardon.
Dear, me B.! l am sure, if had known"
al beg you won't feel distressed. II you
have found out all about me, perhaps YOU
will have the charity to enlighten Miss
Arden?'
"It's nothing at ALL" she blurted out !;
"only Miss Payne came over, and said you
belonged to the Carews Of New Jersey, and
they were bad lot-fast men and vulgar
women-and l told her didn't believe it.
And then she asked Mr.. Skidmore, and he
laid he detested vulgar woman, and could
tell in moment if they had good birth and
breeding, and Oh, Miss Carew, l haven't
made you angry, have /? OF course, !
didn't really believe her." :
"It is all true," said Annie Carew, quiet
y. az didn't consider it necessary to tell
nv affairs to every one. And now, ii you
will get the umbrella, Miss Arden, | will
90"
When we were alone, I said: Now,
May, tell me why Mr.. Skidmore dislikes
Miss Carew."
"Ill tell you all he said, Miss Arden.
Miss Payne said there was mystery about
Miss Carew, and hinted at something rather
rejecting on her character; and Mr.. Skid
more said it was her family was ,rllining
ner. Miss Payne told Inc afterward that
he hated Miss Carew because she had in-
trapped his brother into an engagement.
This was two years ago, and it is all brokc,
off now. Mr.. Skidmore would not hear o.
it, believe, and wrote to Miss Carew, tell
ing her his brother would be an outcast
from his family if he married her, and
asked her - set him free. 1t seems that
she didn't really care for him, but he was
sild about her, and they drifted into an en-
sagement. The whole family thoroughly
,lisliked her, and Miss Payne said no re-
spectacle people visited them. They live
in fast eel, and Miss Carew goes all about
with no chaperonc and, believe, gets dread
iully mixed up with gossip. Mr.. Skid
more would be glad never to see her
again"
She stopped for sheer lack of breath, and
said, feeling sort of scorn for q man who
could so speak of woman: Miss Carew
may be all you say, but until ] know more
lbout il / shall treat her as / always have.
and as for Miss Payne, she is a low, gos-
.iping weman to repeat such tale
She stared at me in amaze.
IL had no idea you were so fond OF her.
he said. "Do you know they say she is
called very fascinating? I have rather
pitied her because she was so plain
"What became of Mr.. Skidmore's
brother?"
"Oh, believe he married somebody else.
But must 20 now. You are not offended,
Miss Arden?"
NO." said, laughing; mot with such
4 giddy tomboy as you are"
l was greatly surprised by what May had
told me. For the first time | suspected
there was another nature in Annie Carew
Than the indolent. careless one we saw.
There might dangerous fires sleep under
those soft, brown eyes. There might be
hidden depths under that cold exterior.
And, now thought OF it, she wasn't so very
plain. She had beautiful eyes, brown and
clear-looking; delicate eyebrows full red
lps and masses of soft, dusky hair. If her
face was dark and thin, it was also full OF
character. Certainly she was not to be
pitied.
was rather fearful as to how she would
treat May, but at teatime she came in
smiling, and apologizing for being SO late.
There was not a trace of any unpleasantness
in the smooth face. She laughed a great
.!eal, and showed me sketch she had made
ridiculously long-necked bird was perched
un the umbrella, and in its mouth a bit of
scarlet ribbon, over which it seemed puz-
zled. There was real expression in the
small, uncanny eyes, andI laughed heartily,
"How we'll you sketch, Miss Csrcw!"
said May, who was looking over my
shoulder.
"Yes; that is one OF my Bohemian a,ro-
tlivities. One learns many things like that
travelling over the world without chapsrone."
There was no malice in the tone. It
seemed merely an explanation. Mr.. Skid
more looked up quickly, and then went out
of the room, abruptly. Miss Carew laughed.
"Have l shocked anybody?" she asked,
lightly.
"Come out on the beach," | whispered.
And when we were alone, l said, "Tcll me
about it, Miss Carew."
1t was in substance what had heard
once before that afternoon. She cared
nothing for the boyish lover, and was glad
TO have the engagement broken, but the in
,o1on+ ,,n;,.t ,y,rJ, of NJ Sk; k;Jr,nr.. bod