Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1886-07-31
A closer inspection assured her it

"A closer Inspection assured ner J
was not.
"Why it's it's birthday card"
And hastily scizing the missive sh,
stepped into the parlor to examine j
privately
"For Electra! Well, | declare
Who's it from | wonder ? There's NJ
harm in opening birthday card, 81
I'll just see what it is"
And carefully prying open the en-
velope Mrs. Feversham beheld taste
fully-decorated sheet of rice-paper, OF
the inner side of which were some
written words, which she proceeded tt
read:
Miss ELECTRA IL shall pass your
home at sunrise tomorrow morning; il
is your birthday If ! see your face Al
the window, shall take it as sign that
you are willing to accept my card.
Yours sincerely,
MALVERN TRAvERs."
ooh, indeedp' Mrs. Ignatia grew red
in the face as she comprehended the
purport of the words. $50 it is her
he's been coming to see, hey? I'll have
a finger in that pie, Malvern Travers
I'll take charge of this document my
self. And it won't be Electra's face
you'll see at sunrise r
And carefully secreting the paper,
she hurried out to the warm dining
room and the waiting breakfast.
An hour or two later, Mrs. Fever
sham, arrayed in her second-best
things, appeared III the kitchen, where
Electra was hopping the floor.
"I'm going over to see old Mrs
Dimity | heard she was ill., she an
nounced, land I shan't be back to
dinner, so you needn't mind cooking
any. There's enough left over from
breakfast for you"
And Electra made no comment hav.
ing better discretion than to question
anything her stepmother choose to say
or do,
1t was short time after the dinner
hour when Mrs. Feversham returned.
"The old woman's pretty i'll, an |
promised that you might go over an
stay all night, an set up, if need be, "
she informed her daughter. You can
walk easily enough for the snow amt
very deep"
Electra had no objections to make,
and it would have made no difference
if she had, as her will was seldom con
sultud
Old Mrs. Dimity lived with her son
and grandson in a small but cozy cot
tage situated in the very heart of the
woodland
She welcomed Electra cordially,
hut disclaimcd the need of having any
one to sit up, with her.
"But I'm glad to have some one to
talk to" she added, "and to look after
things a little"
Electra and Mrs. Dimity chatted
for awhile, when the old lady fell
asleep, and after time her little boy
Sammy came back from an excursion
in the woods.
Look a-here,' he cried, "what |
found in a tree"
And drawing crumpled paper from
his pocket, he laid it in Electra's lap.
"Miss Electra Fevershan."
Why, it was her own name And
with some natural excitement she ex-
amned the contents of the envelope
A birthday card from Malvern
Travers Elcctra's cheeks burned as
she read the written words
But how could it have got into the
tree ?" she wondered.
Sammy could throw no light on the
subject. except that he had climbed Il
tree after Il squirrel and putting his
hand into hollow of the trunk, he
found the paper.
"And now shall mot he at the win
dow to see him = thought Electra Will
| "a pang.
ITEMS sudden thought came int
her mind
Gould she have been sent away on
purpnsc?" ~
And suddenly the truth flashed
over her her stepmother had dis
covered the card and secreted it.
Electra felt a thrill Of indignation
at the thought.
at must be so, she declared. but
| will let him know somehow"
1t was growing late. and Electra
was getting supper i'll the kitchen,
when the other boy, Tom, came stamp
ing the snow from his feet.
He was not alone, for Electra could
hear him talking in a loud, good
humored Voice.
Presently the kitchen door was flung
wide open, and Tom was saying
walk in Malvern, and get good
warm fore you go. J"
Then to Electra he said:
Here's some chicken Jelly an eld
erberry wine. Malvern has brought t.
mother; his sister sent EN-. Ill just
turn en- over to you; fur I'm in a
hurry. Stay to supper, Malvern.
Aud away he rushed.
but Malvern did not stay I'd supper
He stai,l long enough, however, t6
learn that Electra intended to remain
all night, and that she would have Il
walk home in the morning.
Let me come and take you home
in the drag" he urged.
And Electra consented.
Mrs Feversham looked vainly from
the window at sunrise the next morn
ing. No living creature appeared
But couple Of hours later she was
more surprised than pleased to behold
her daughter and Malvern Traver.
driving leisurely up the house
"WeIl, declared she began angrily
when the latter had driven away.
But Electra cody drew out the in
tercepted card and exhibited it to her
stepmoiher, who thereupon concluded
/ it was best TO hold her peace,
Truly, the ways Of Cupid are past